Derrick Rose Looks Uncomfortable in New Mask, May Not Play in Chicago Bulls Opening Game

Derrick Rose is now four full weeks removed from surgery to his left orbital to fix a fracture after being elbowed in the face by a teammate during practice. However, he may miss the Chicago Bulls' season opener against the rival Cleveland Cavaliers. A recent Vine of him shooting in his new mask shows he clearly doesn't look comfortable and ready for live game action.

While this new #permastinkface video has been all over the web the past couple of days, the fact remains that the Bulls still don't know when Rose will be able to return. The opener is just under a week away, and the most contact Rose has had was in practice with coaches putting a pad on him before he took a jump shot, which isn't exactly inspiring.

The 2011 MVP still has blurred, and sometimes double, vision. Considering all of his past ailments, the last thing Bulls management wants to do is throw him out there if he can't see sufficiently, and Fred Hoiberg iterated as much.

"We don't want him to go out there, jar something or get hurt," Hoiberg said according to the Chicago Sun-Times. "He has not resumed full activity yet."

This matchup with the Cavaliers is a big one, but Bulls fans shouldn't lose sight of the situation. It's only one game, one of 82. If the Bulls want to get past Cleveland in the playoffs, they'll need Rose at 100 percent. If that means missing a game on October 27, then so be it.

Assuming the Bulls play it safe, Rose will likely sit out at least the first two games of the season -- a back-to-back set against the Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets. The next opportunity will be Friday Oct. 30 against the Detroit Pistons, or perhaps they will wait until Sunday November 1 at home vs. the Orlando Magic.