AP

As receiver Johnny Knox continues to recover from a horrific back injury suffered in December 2011, the Bears has decided that he’s currently not ready to return to practice.

The team has announced that he’ll start camp on the active/physically unable to perform list.

Eventually, the 2009 fifth-rounder will likely be placed on the reserve/PUP list, which would give him an opportunity to return to practice during a three-week window that opens after Week Six. If he does, the team then will have three weeks to add him to the active roster or shut him down for the season.

Chances are Knox won’t play in 2012. But it makes sense to follow this procedure in the event that Knox’s recovery accelerates unexpectedly.