There isn't much encouraging news coming out about Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons' injury. Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

76ers star Ben Simmons' knee injury worse than first thought?

By Zac Wassink | Last updated Aug 6, 2020 1:58 PM ET

The Philadelphia 76ers may be without star Ben Simmons longer than first thought.

Simmons left Wednesday's game versus the Washington Wizards with a non-contact left knee injury, and ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported the 24-year-old experienced "no swelling or pain" following the contest.

However, Wojnarowski, The Athletic's Shams Charania and other outlets confirmed on Thursday that Simmons is suffering from a subluxation of the left knee cap and is out indefinitely.

One positive is that an MRI showed no ligament damage.

MRI showed no ligament damage for Simmons, but subluxation of the left knee cap. Both sides are collectively working on treatment options. https://t.co/W1cRC0V8Rz
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 6, 2020

The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor pointed out, though, that Simmons could potentially be sidelined for some time.

Ugh. Andrew Bynum sufferered the same knee injury in 2008. It was reported at the time as “at least eight weeks” before he could return. Hopefully Ben Simmons is able to recover and come back 100% healthy. https://t.co/j5Lk02NUAN
— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) August 6, 2020

Dr. Brian Sutterer suggested Simmons' setback isn't as bad as the injury Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes suffered during the 2019 NFL season.

Subluxation = partially came out of place but not all the way. Mahomes had a full dislocation and those are more serious. Essentially this is when the knee cap slides out of the trochlear groove https://t.co/mIWtdUjfRJ pic.twitter.com/zk13vfk88b
— Brian Sutterer, MD (@b_sutterer) August 6, 2020

Also, impossible for me to speculate on how long he's out as it depends so much on his level of discomfort and how unstable it feels
— Brian Sutterer, MD (@b_sutterer) August 6, 2020

ESPN's Tim Bontemps also declined to speculate on Simmons' timetable or status.

The playoffs are scheduled to begin Aug. 17.

Zac Wassink

Zac Wassink is a longtime sports news writer and PFWA member who began his career in 2006 and has had his work featured on Yardbarker, MSN, Yahoo Sports and Bleacher Report. He is also a football and futbol aficionado who is probably yelling about Tottenham Hotspur at the moment and who chanted for Matt Harvey to start the ninth inning of Game 5 of the 2015 World Series at Citi Field. You can find him on X at @ZacWassink

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