The opening days of the 2026-27 NBA season have produced a string of significant injuries. The biggest belongs to Anthony Edwards: the Minnesota Timberwolves guard needs an arthroscopic procedure to address issues with his right knee and will miss several weeks, according to AP, as reported by NBA.com. NBA.com also reported that the Utah Jazz will be without Jaren Jackson Jr. for at least six weeks with a torn MCL, that Lauri Markkanen sprained his wrist, and that the Washington Wizards' Justin Champagnie has had surgery on his right foot.
A person with knowledge of the matter disclosed Edwards' procedure to AP on 27 October (US time), as reported by NBA.com, speaking on condition of anonymity because the Timberwolves had not yet announced it. Edwards had been on injury reports with a right knee issue, though the nature of the problem was unclear, and Minnesota had listed him as questionable for its game against the Golden State Warriors scheduled for 28 October (US time) before the decision to operate. Some reports put his absence at up to two months.
The setback cuts short a blistering start. Edwards was averaging 33.3 points and had led Minnesota to three wins in its first four games, scoring 45 in the season-opening win at Miami and 47 in a loss to Cleveland on 26 October.
In Utah, Jackson tore the MCL in his right knee in the second quarter of the Jazz's 110-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on 26 October (US time). He will be re-evaluated in six weeks, NBA.com reported. Markkanen sprained his right wrist in the first quarter of the same game and is day-to-day. Jackson was averaging 16.3 points and 5.0 rebounds through four games, and he and Markkanen were two of Utah's top three scorers in the first three games.
In Washington, the Wizards announced on 28 October (US time) that Champagnie had surgery to repair a fracture in his right foot. The forward was hurt in the first period against the Charlotte Hornets on 26 October and was averaging 7.3 points and 7.5 rebounds per game in 2026-27.
Injury summary
| Player | Team | Injury | Expected absence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anthony Edwards | Minnesota Timberwolves | Right knee, arthroscopic procedure | Several weeks, up to two months in some reports |
| Jaren Jackson Jr. | Utah Jazz | Torn MCL, right knee | At least six weeks |
| Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz | Sprained right wrist | Day-to-day |
| Justin Champagnie | Washington Wizards | Fractured right foot, surgery done | Wizards hope for a return by the All-Star break |
A worrying injury history
None of the three stars is new to the treatment room. Edwards played only 61 games in 2025-26, mostly because of knee problems. Markkanen appeared in just 89 games across 2024-25 and 2025-26 and has not played more than 66 games in a season since Utah traded for him before the 2022-23 season.
Jackson's case is especially unlucky. After arriving in Utah in a trade with Memphis in 2025-26, he played only three games for the Jazz before season-ending surgery on his left knee, and his latest injury came against his former team.
What comes next
According to the AP report carried by NBA.com, a two-month absence would keep Edwards out until around Minnesota's Christmas Day game against the Oklahoma City Thunder (25 December), roughly 25 games. That would leave him short of the NBA's 65-game threshold for end-of-season awards such as All-NBA and MVP. At the time of that report, the Timberwolves had not publicly announced the procedure.
Jackson will be re-evaluated in six weeks and Markkanen remains day-to-day. For the Wizards, NBA.com cited a media report that the team hopes Champagnie can return by the All-Star break.