The longest-term injury that second-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls faced so far this season was thanks to a wrist dislocation unfortunately dealt to second-year forward Patrick Williams early on in the regular season slate. Williams was absent for Donovan and the Bulls since late October.
But it feels like we can see the light at the end of the tunnel in terms of the return of Williams to the rotation in the latter stages of this season. It’s hard to exactly know when Williams will be able to make his return for the Bulls from this wrist injury this season. There is some level of optimism, though, that Williams will return for the Bulls before the end of next month.
According to a report from the Chicago Tribune this weekend, though (paid content), the Bulls and their fans are very eager to get Williams back in the mix down the stretch this season. But there are reportedly still “several hurdles” that remain before the Bulls can officially clear Williams to return to the rotation.
Chicago Bulls reportedly have “several hurdles” to clear before Patrick Williams returns from injury
It sounds like there are a number of tests that the Bulls’ staff wants Williams to get through before he is even able to return to contact drills in full practice. That could come in the next few weeks, but there are more steps in the process for Williams to get through before that time arrives.
Getting Williams back will be a big step forward for the Bulls. He is one of the three key Bulls players that were absent at least for the last couple of months that this team has to be chomping at the bit to get back in the lineup. The other two are point guards Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball.
Yet, it does look like the Bulls are set to get Caruso up and running in basketball activities again this week. That is positive news for Caruso, who like Williams, is also recovering from a severe wrist injury he suffered earlier in the season.
Following their tough six-point loss to star point guard Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies at home at the United Center on Feb. 26, the Bulls are sitting with a record of 39-22. Next up for the Bulls is a meeting with the first-place Miami Heat on the road on Feb. 28.