Jazz set four-week re-evaluation for Nurkic after right foot injury

Jusuf Nurkic will be re-evaluated in four weeks after suffering a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot, the Utah Jazz announced Wednesday. The team said the injury occurred during its Oct. 4 preseason opener against Denver and that another update would follow the evaluation.

The announcement leaves Utah preparing for the start of the season without the veteran center. Four weeks is the next medical checkpoint, rather than a scheduled return to the lineup. The Jazz did not announce a date for him to resume playing.

An early change in the middle

Nurkic played 11 minutes against Denver in the opener, finishing with four points, five rebounds and four assists. KSL Sports' Chandler Holt reported that he then missed Monday's open practice with right foot soreness and appeared on Tuesday's injury report with a right foot injury.

Chris Haynes first reported the diagnosis Wednesday evening, saying Nurkic would be sidelined for at least four weeks. Utah's later medical update confirmed the injury and specified the re-evaluation timetable. That gives the Jazz a clearer picture of the absence after Nurkic missed Tuesday's preseason rematch with Denver.

Holt identified Jaxson Hayes, Mo Bamba, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Kyle Filipowski as players who could handle the center minutes during Nurkic's absence. Those are possible ways to cover the position; Utah's announcement did not name a replacement starter or set out a rotation.

More than a scoring absence

Nurkic averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists last season, according to KSL. His passing and rebounding are part of what Utah must replace while it works through its remaining preseason games and opens the regular season.

The Jazz have already used different combinations. In its official account of Tuesday's 117-106 loss to Denver, the team described Will Hardy experimenting with lineups that included Ace Bailey at center. That preseason look does not establish a permanent role, but it illustrates the options Utah has been testing with Nurkic unavailable.

For now, the next confirmed step is the four-week evaluation. Utah's subsequent medical update will determine whether the timeline changes and when Nurkic can move toward a return.