Devean George is close to coming back from off-season surgery on his left ankle, a return delayed more than two months because of complications in his left leg.

Initially, George was expected back in mid-November, but the muscles in his upper left leg atrophied because of lack of use while the ankle was immobilized for a month in a walking boot. He also developed tendinitis in his left knee as a result of the immobilization.

"Mentally it's rough," George said. "Setbacks and trying to do things that you can't do, the whole trial-and-error thing. You're feeling good and then try to do something, you're like 'I used to be able to do this' and then you try it and you can't do it."