Paul Coro

USATODAY

Bledsoe has been shooting and working with assistant coaches%2C but no practice yet

He has been out six weeks after having knee surgery

There has been an "if and when" attached to the comeback of Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe this season.

It now is looking more like just "when" he returns. That is because Bledsoe possibly is about a week away from resuming practicing with the team, if all progress and check-ups continue to go as well as they have thus far. Bledsoe has been doing more active shooting on the court this week and working with assistant coaches.

It has been six weeks since Bledsoe underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. The team and Bledsoe's representatives are making sure it is a careful recovery process for a knee that also had a surgery 27 months prior.

"He's working more and more every day," Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. "He's going to get checked out again just to make sure nothing's going on in there. He's in good spirits and I think he's itching to go but they're being cautious with him and making sure that we're not rushing him back to be in this run. When he comes back, it's going to be great. It gives us another weapon so we look forward to that day."

Bledsoe is unavailable for comment until he resumes practicing.

The Suns were 16-8 in games with Bledsoe, who missed his 30th game Friday night.

Hornacek does not worry about hesitancy in the 23-year-old guard once he is cleared for game action.

"The true competitors really don't, and I think he is a true competitor," Hornacek said. "When he starts playing, you won't see him hesitate. I'm sure he'll still play the way he always did."

Paul Coro writes for the Arizona Republic