The Facts: Knox’s football career could be over. The injured wide receiver, who continues to recover from spinal fusion surgery, had his contract terminated by the Bears on Tuesday morning.

Diehards Line:Knox, a 26-year-old vested veteran, spent the entire 2012 season on the physically unable to perform list after sustaining a devastating blow from Seahawks defensive end Anthony Hargrove in 2011. Knox collected his $1.26 million salary while sitting out this past season. His contract originally was supposed to expire after the ’12 campaign. But according to rules of the collective bargaining agreement, when a player in the last year of his contract is on the PUP list that entire season, his contract can be rolled over to the next season, at the team’s discretion. According to Tribune staffer Vaughn McClure, multiple sources have indicated the structural damage Knox suffered would make it difficult for him to return to football again -- although Knox remains hopeful. "He’s going with the mindset that he’s playing in 2013,” Knox’s agent Marc Lillibridge told Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times. ... While we wouldn't bank on that, Knox's speed was an asset that helped the Bears stretch the field. New HC Marc Trestman seems destined to add more help at receiver to take some of the load off Brandon Marshall, with Knox out of the mix and Devin Hester's offensive status uncertain.