Chicago Bears receiver Johnny Knox provided a glimpse Thursday into his recovery from a serious neck and back injury via Twitter, offering this photograph of the torso brace he must wear until the middle of March and not directly answering a question about whether he'll be cleared to play in 2012.
Asked if he thought he would play, Knox tweeted: "I'm focusing on getting 100% first!"
Knox needed surgery to fuse a vertebra in his back after a violent collision bent him backwards in a Dec. 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks. Asked via Twitter how close he was to never walking again, Knox tweeted: "If i tell u u wont be able to sleep."
The Bears have expressed hope that Knox will resume his career, but for the purposes of offseason planning, they might not be able to expect it. His situation is one more reason why the receiver position will be an offseason priority.