The Milwaukee Bucks began their 2025-26 campaign with a win against the Washington Wizards, but an unfortunate injury dampened the excitement. Starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. awkwardly stepped on teammate Bobby Portis’s foot, forcing him to sit the rest of the game out. Now, the Bucks have released an update on his condition.

According to a post on the Bucks’ X account, “Kevin Porter Jr. underwent an MRI this morning and was evaluated by Bucks team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carole Vetter, who confirmed the initial diagnosis of a left ankle sprain.” Ankle sprains can vary in severity, and the Bucks’ description shows caution instead of panic.

The team also revealed, “KPJ will not play in the upcoming road trip to Toronto (10/24) and Cleveland (10/26). Additional updates will be provided as appropriate.” This is an unfortunate situation. Early-season chemistry is crucial, especially with the number of new additions the Bucks made over the offseason, and losing the starting point guard, even if it’s for a couple of games, can completely disrupt the team’s rhythm.

Milwaukee now faces the challenge of maintaining its offensive flow without its secondary ball-handler alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In his absence, the Bucks have a few options. The most likely replacement is Ryan Rollins, who previously stepped up in Damian Lillard‘s absence last season, starting 19 games. Rollins provides the team with solid long-range shooting. Even then, the Bucks will have to rely on Giannis to fill the void of Porter’s playmaking, and they’re likely to tweak offensive sets and rely more heavily on the vets to stabilize the team.

After the game against the Wizards, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers addressed reporters about Porter’s injury. “It didn’t look good, I’ll tell you that. We’re going to do an MRI tomorrow, and gotta hope for the best. Looking at it, it was a pretty bad sprain.” So far, there hasn’t been any communication on the severity of the sprain.

Each practice, workout and medical assessment will factor into the eventual timeline for Kevin Porter Jr.’s return.  In the meantime, Milwaukee must adapt as soon as possible to weather the storm.

When Will Kevin Porter Jr. Return for the Milwaukee Bucks?

Though the Milwaukee Bucks haven’t given a solid update on Kevin Porter Jr.’s return timeline, there are resources fans can look at for a potential date for his return.

According to Harvard Health, there are three grades of ankle sprains. Grade one strains are minor and take one to two weeks to heal completely. If the sprain is grade two, it can take up to six weeks to heal, pegging his return to early December. A grade three strain would put his return at six or more months, and could rule him out for the entire season.

Many factors affect his timeline. Apart from the natural healing process, his mobility and stability in practice and scrimmages will be key factors in his readiness.

The Bucks are unlikely to rush Porter back and must be mindful that any misstep could spell disaster for their season. This cautious approach is standard for lower-limb injuries and prioritizes longevity.

Looking ahead, Milwaukee remains optimistic. Porter’s exit from the opener might’ve caught attention, but it isn’t catastrophic.

The Bucks have a bunch of backcourt talent, including Rollins, Cole Anthony and AJ Green, all of whom will have to step up their game alongside Giannis to match Porter’s offensive contributions to the team.