Rose could miss season opener

Coach Vinny Del Negro created a stir late Monday when, for the first time, he said it's possible the inflamed tendon behind Derrick Rose's right ankle could keep the guard out of the Oct. 29 season opener against San Antonio.

"Yes, it is in the realm of possibility," Del Negro said. "I hope it isn't. But yes, it's a concern."

Posed the exact question last Friday, Del Negro had said that wasn't a possibility. Reminded of this, Del Negro backtracked a bit.

"I don't think he will (miss the opener)," Del Negro said. "But I thought he would be back the other day."

Rose ran and shot jumpers for the second straight day, placed his health at "80 percent" and said there's "no way" he'd miss the opener. He hasn't played since suffering the injury in the Oct. 2 exhibition opener.

"It's an unusual injury," Del Negro said. "It's a different injury. I want to make sure it's healed up. He's getting a little better every day. But I don't want to bring him back and the next day he's sore or the next day it's re-injured. We want to heal it up."

The Bulls have three practice days until Friday's preseason finale against Washington, and Del Negro said Rose definitely wouldn't participate in the contact portion of practice Tuesday.