Chicago Bears general manager Phil Emery provided updates Wednesday on

the potential return of injured offensive tackle Gabe Carimi and

receiver Johnny Knox during a conference call with the club's

season-ticket holders.

Back in February, Carimi said his surgically repaired right knee was

pain free, and he's expecting to participate in the team's first

offseason camp later this month. Emery said he's spent time with both

Carimi and Knox during their respective rehabilitation processes.

Carimi said he'd been rehabbing five days a week at Halas Hall.

"[Carimi] has been working tremendously hard," Emery said during the

conference call, excerpts of which were posted on the team's website.

"I have had a chance to visit with him a couple times and watch him

rehab. We're very excited that he's coming back. He's going to really

help solidify our offensive line."

The team's first-round pick in 2011, Carimi injured his right knee in

the second game of the season in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.

Initially, Carimi tried to recover without the help of surgery. But

during his attempt to make a comeback, Carimi suffered a setback,

which led to arthroscopic surgery in early November. Later the club

placed Carimi on the injured reserve, and the next month, the

offensive tackle underwent another procedure on the knee.

Knox, meanwhile, appears to be facing a much more difficult

rehabilitation process. Emery seemed to acknowledge as much.

Knox suffered a fractured vertebra when he absorbed a devastating hit

during a 28-14 loss Dec. 18 to the Seattle Seahawks. The damage from

the collision resulted in Knox undergoing surgery to stabilize a

vertebra in his back.

"He has made progress and will continue to make progress. As I've told

him, ultimately it'll be him that will decide when he comes back,"

Emery said. "It'll be him telling us where he's at in the rehab

process. We're a long way from having to make that decision and we're

going to lean heavily on Johnny helping us make that decision.

Johnny's made every effort to get back as quick as he can, and he is

making progress. Yeah, you want to be cautious because it was a tough

injury. It was a heavy-contact injury. Johnny understands where he's

at. He's going to keep pushing forward, and there couldn't be a Bear

with a better attitude than him."

Knox caught 37 passes for 727 yards and two touchdowns in 2011, but

there's speculation he could miss a portion of the 2012 season. Even

if the receiver returns to play in 2012, his roles on offense and

special teams could be reduced because of the club's additions of

Brandon Marshall and Eric Weems.

"I've had the opportunity to be down with him in the training room

here in the last four or five weeks," Emery said. "Nobody puts more

effort into it."