los angeles (ap) -- lakers coach phil jackson said sunday that there's an "outside chance" andrew bynum could return to the team's lineup this week.
Bynum has been out since tearing a right knee ligament on jan. 31 at memphis.
The third-year center has been working out and will do so again monday, but jackson said that bynum won't travel with the team to sacramento for its game tuesday.
"there's an outside chance he'll be activated by week's end," jackson said before the lakers played the clippers on sunday night. "he looks good; physically, he's strong."
bynum had contact in a 5-on-5 practice saturday without starters kobe bryant, pau gasol and derek fisher.
"he stood out and was aggressive," jackson said. "he was kind of a dominant force in there."
after sunday, the lakers have five games remaining in the regular season. They've already clinched home-court advantage throughout the western conference playoffs.
NBA.com: Bynum could return to Lakers by week's end