Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić is sidelined for at least four weeks with a partial plantar plate tear of the second toe of his right foot, a brutal blow for a team that’s been talking big about making a significant leap up the Western Conference standings this season. The Jazz confirmed the news Wednesday, and it throws a huge wrench into their early season plans right out of the gate.
The Blowout and the Blow-Up
Nurkić picked up this nasty injury during the Jazz’s preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets on Sunday. It’s not clear exactly when it happened, but he checked out with 2:41 left in the first half and never came back after halftime. The Jazz actually went on to beat the Nuggets that night, 109-97, but the victory feels a lot less sweet now. Nurkić, the 16th overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, is a 12-year NBA vet who’s averaged 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.1 blocks in 24.5 minutes per game over his career. He joined the Jazz before the 2025-26 season, made 41 appearances last year, including 36 starts, and then they re-signed him to a two-year, $22 million deal in free agency. That’s a significant investment to have on the bench for at least a month, maybe longer. Remember when the Los Angeles Lakers offered two unprotected first-round picks plus two more pick swaps for restricted free agent center Walker Kessler? That’s what put Nurkić right back into the starting lineup alongside incumbent star Lauri Markkanen and trade-deadline acquisition Jaren Jackson Jr. This was supposed to be the front line that maximized Utah’s size and rebounding, allowed Jackson to play his natural power forward position, and gave Keyonte George and number two overall draft pick Darryn Peterson a consistent screening and passing partner in head coach Will Hardy’s offense. Nurkić even showed some promising early returns in his 11 minutes in the opener, putting up two points, five rebounds, four assists, one block, and one steal, with Utah outscoring Denver by three points while he was on the floor. Now, Hardy and his squad have to wait a while before they can get a longer look at that group.
Who Steps Up? The Hard Truth For Will Hardy’s Plans
The Jazz said Nurkić will be re-evaluated in four weeks, and he could easily be sidelined for even longer. It’s a brutal waiting game. In their second preseason game against the Nuggets on Tuesday, the Jazz rolled out Jaxson Hayes in the middle, and the Nuggets took that one, 117-106. Hayes, a seven-year veteran, is now staring at a big uptick in playing time and opportunities through the start of the regular season. Third-year big man Kyle Filipowski could also see his role expand. Coach Hardy also has the option to shift Jackson up to the 5 spot, which would open up space on the wing for rising sophomore Ace Bailey to slide in alongside Markkanen, George, and Peterson. Bailey actually started in place of Markkanen on Tuesday, dropping 10 points on 4-for-12 shooting with seven rebounds, three assists, one steal, and one block in 27 minutes of play. It’s a lot of shuffling for a team trying to find its footing and make a run in the West.
The Jazz now have a real question mark hanging over their big plans. Will Hardy and his squad have to figure out how to fill a massive hole, and fast, if they want to keep those Western Conference dreams alive while Nurkić is on the mend.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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