Sixers fans had a long summer with Paul George’s recovery, Joel Embiid’s rehab, and the Quentin Grimes contract situation. Also, the training camp hasn’t been very exciting. Nevertheless, the return of Jared McCain was a significant positive heading into the new season.

The second-year guard had quietly become the team’s most intriguing piece. After missing the back half of his rookie year with a meniscus tear, all signs pointed to McCain being fully cleared and ready to carve out a bigger role. That was until Thursday.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain suffered a UCL tear in his right thumb during a workout Thursday, per ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. The team has confirmed that surgery will not be required. McCain and the Sixers are working with specialists to determine the best path forward. But this injury also follows a torn meniscus in his left knee that ended his rookie year after just 23 games. 

The Sixers have confirmed that McCain and the team are consulting specialists to determine how to move ahead with the UCL tear, as they typically require 4-12 weeks to heal, depending on severity. With training camp starting Saturday and the season opener against Boston on October 22, 2025, McCain’s availability is uncertain. Before this setback, McCain was a revelation. As a rookie, he averaged 15.3 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 46.0% from the field and 38.3% from three.

In November last year, he earned the Eastern Conference Rookie of the Month honors with a 13-game tear, averaging 21.7 points and 39.8% from deep on 8.3 attempts per game. He recorded an 18-point, four-three performance against the Lakers and a 24-point outburst against Orlando’s defense. At 6-foot-2, McCain’s knack for no-dip threes and playmaking off the ball made him a fan favorite.

Jared McCain’s injury could derail an extension

After ending the season early last year after his injury, McCain is now entering his second season. He was a candidate for a contract extension, with his four-year, $19.448 million rookie deal set to expire in 2028. The 76ers were sure to lock him up long term alongside Tyrese Maxey, after his performance. However, with the UCL tear, his future with the franchise seems to be in limbo. An extended absence could delay any extension talks, as the Sixers need to see him sustain his rookie promise over a full season. Spotrac projects his 2025-26 cap hit at $4.221 million, a bargain if he is able to return to form, but the injury raises questions about his durability.

The Sixers’ backcourt already has Maxey, rookie VJ Edgecombe, and potentially Quentin Grimes, who remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. Meanwhile, McCain’s injury could mean more minutes for Edgecombe and Kyle Lowry. Coach Nick Nurse must make a tough call on whether to start McCain or Edgecombe alongside Maxey, with McCain’s defensive limitations as a concern. His 6-foot-3.5 wingspan struggles against taller guards, though he showed grit, like his game-saving defense on LaMelo Ball. 

Had he stayed healthy, McCain would’ve been in the thick of the Rookie of the Year race. Instead, he joined the long list of Sixers who couldn’t escape the injury report. The Sixers are in a delicate position. Embiid has missed 25+ games in six of his nine NBA seasons. Paul George, now 35, is coming off another knee surgery and will likely be load-managed. Embiid’s $55.2 million salary and George’s $51.7 million deal eat up over 65% of the payroll, per Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus, who called the Sixers’ cap situation the NBA’s worst. 

It’s unclear whether McCain will be available for the Sixers’ first preseason games against the Knicks in Abu Dhabi on October 2nd and 4th. Even more uncertain is how this will affect his standing in the rotation. Without a clear recovery timeline, McCain risks falling behind in a backcourt where every minute is going to be contested. The hope is that this latest injury doesn’t turn into another extended absence. At just 21 years old, McCain has shown enough to warrant patience. But patience only goes so far when your franchise is dangling over a cap sheet held together by duct tape and expired medical reports.