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Michael Porter Jr.: “It's too early to tell” when he will be ready to play

On Tuesday, the injured Mizzou freshman spoke to media for the first time

NCAA Basketball: Stephen F. Austin at Missouri Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports

Missouri freshmen Michael Porter Jr. and Jeremiah Tilmon appeared before the media on Tuesday. For Porter, it was his first media appearance since a back injury sidelined him in November. Our Tramel Raggs was on the scene.

Michael Porter Jr. & Jeremiah Tilmon

"Rehab is going great, I'm getting stronger every day. Right now it's too early to tell [If I'll be able to play]. This is the type of injury where I'll feel good before I'm ready to play because a lot of healing has occurred." -Michael Porter Jr. on where he's at with his back rehab

Posted by Rock M Nation on Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Naturally, Porter was asked about his potential return. Rumors have spread — both from outside sources and, through vague social media posts, Porter himself — that he might not be out for the original four-month span we were told at the time of his surgery. His answer was predictably vague:

"Rehab is going great, I'm getting stronger every day. Right now it's too early to tell [If I'll be able to play]. This is the type of injury where I'll feel good before I'm ready to play because a lot of healing has occurred."

“My time is coming,” Porter said. “I just can’t rush it.” Mizzou will begin SEC play without him on Wednesday evening in Columbia, SC.

On the bright side, however, another Mizzou star — Sophie Cunningham — should return soon after suffering an injury of her own this past weekend: