Kyle Fuller’s knee reacts ‘in a positive way,’ but return unclear

Despite his coach’s claim that he looks “pretty much the same” as he did last week, Bears cornerback Kyle Fuller said he’s been making progress on his surgically repaired right knee.

That doesn’t necessarily mean the former first-round pick will be able to play Sunday in Detroit.

“It’s reacting in a positive way,” Fuller said Wednesday. “Still have some work to do.”

Fuller returned to practice Nov. 30; the Bears have 21 days from that point to activate him from injured reserve and play him in games, or shut him down for the season.

Fuller said the last step for him is to “get all the way back,” and that the biggest challenge was “just knowing what I have to do” to be ready.

“I take it day to day,” he said.

The Bears have another veteran cornerback to consider, too: Johnthan Banks, the former second-round pick they claimed Monday from the Lions. Banks started 37 games for the Buccaneers from 2013-15, recording seven interceptions in 30 starts over his first two seasons.

“I view it as a big opportunity,” Banks said. “Just go out there and make some plays, fly around and show people what I can do.”

At 6-2, 185 pounds, Banks’ build is a good fit for Vic Fangio’s defense. The defensive coordinator said this week the staff will “work hard to resurrect his career” in Chicago.

“They know I’m a good player,” said Banks, who the Lions waived last week after trading a seventh-round pick to the Buccaners for him Nov. 1. “I’m long, rangy, I can play man, I can play zone. I got good ball skills. Pretty much what you want in a corner, I feel like I have it.”

He might not Sunday. Banks is still figuring out the scheme — “I’m just here to try to learn the playbook,” he said — and the Bears should be motivated to take a look at younger players.

Rookie Deiondre’ Hall hasn’t played in a game since spraining his right ankle Oct. 6. Fuller is three years younger than the 27-year-old Banks.

For the second-straight week, the Bears will wait until later in the week to make a call on Fuller’s return.

“We’ve got a couple more days to look at that and make that decision,” coach John Fox said. “And really even some extended time after that.”