The Memphis Grizzlies had hoped to bounce back this year following two disappointing seasons, where they were either riddled with injuries or faced internal problems, leading to the firing of their coach with just nine games left in the season. Now, their plans have hit another snag.

In a recent medical update, the Grizzlies have announced that former Defensive Player of the Year and All-Star forward Jaren Jackson Jr. has been dealing with injuries in the offseason. The report said, “Jaren Jackson Jr., who underwent a procedure to repair a turf toe injury in his right foot on July 2, has been cleared to begin ramping up basketball activities. He is expected to return to play in 4-6 weeks.” With the given recovery timelines, the 26-year-old is expected to miss the start of training camp and likely the opening stretch of the regular season.

This comes as a tough blow for the team, especially considering that Jackson’s frontcourt teammates, Zach Edey, who will be sidelined for 6-9 weeks following surgery, and Brandon Clarke, who is set to undergo a procedure on his knee, are also set to miss time, leaving the Grizzlies particularly thin at power forward and center spots.

Jackson has been the centerpiece of Memphis‘ defense and is one of the best weak-side shot-blockers in the league. During the last two seasons, due to superstar Ja Morant missing time, he has also taken a step forward offensively, increasing his scoring average by close to 4 points, and averaged 22.2 points per game last year on a career-best 37.5% from three on 5.3 attempts. His offensive development has not hampered him defensively either, despite his block numbers falling from his DPOY heights, and he still made All-Defensive Second Team last year. His absence is going to especially hurt the Grizzlies’ stability, which, if Morant goes down again, will leave the team with no solid first option.

Jackson’s current timeline places his earliest return in late October, but it could stretch into mid-November if his recovery is slow. With their big-man depth heavily spent after Jackson, Edey, and Clarke’s injuries, the Grizzlies might be forced to lean on backups Jock Landale, Santi Aldama, and GG Jackson, hurting their early-season rhythm.

The Bigger Picture Behind Jackson’s Absence

The timing of Jaren Jackson Jr.’s setback is hard to ignore. The procedure to repair his injury occurred on July 2nd, and just the previous day, the Grizzlies had inked a lucrative $239.9 million extension with a player option in the final year that would keep him on the team through the 2029-2030 season. Memphis has bet big on Jackson being a long-term anchor for the team, but his mounting injuries only sharpen the focus on whether their gamble pays off.

Jaren’s career has been riddled with injuries and absences. In his rookie season, he was ruled out after the All-Star break due to a deep thigh bruise. A left meniscus tear cut his sophomore season short, and in the next season, he only played 11 games due to recovery. In 2022, he had to undergo surgery to repair a right foot stress fracture, and Jackson has played more than 66 games in only two seasons of his seven so far.

The immediate concern for the Grizzlies is the start of the 2025-26 season. The Western Conference is chock-full of contenders like OKC, Denver, and Houston, and even a two-to-three week absence can alter playoff positioning even months down the line. Jackson’s injury puts even more pressure on Ja Morant and the depth of Memphis’ rotation to stay above water until their All-Star is back to full strength.