
Three injured Grizzlies players will remain sidelined for several more weeks, the team announced today in a press release (Twitter link).
Memphis’ update on starting center Zach Edey is the most notable of the bunch. After initially ruling out Edey for four weeks on December 11 due to a stress reaction in his left ankle, the Grizzlies say that the big man’s recovery period will cover at least six more weeks before he’s reevaluated. That timeline suggests Edey won’t be ready to return until late February at the very earliest.
Edey’s extended absence is an unfortunate turn of events for the Grizzlies, who played some of their best basketball of the season when he was available in November and December. Across 11 outings, Edey has averaged 13.6 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks in 25.8 minutes per game.
More notable than those stats were his on/off-court numbers — the Grizzlies outscored opponents by 18.3 points per 100 possessions and posted a defensive rating of 94.5 during Edey’s 284 minutes on the court.
The Grizzlies also shared updates on forward/center Brandon Clarke, who is recovering from a grade 2 right calf strain, and point guard Scotty Pippen Jr., who has yet to play this season while recovering from a seasmoidectomy performed on his left great toe in October. Both players are progressing well in their respective recoveries, according to the team, and are expected to return to play in about to four to six weeks.
Memphis will play its last game prior to the All-Star break on February 11, which is exactly four weeks from today, so Clarke and Pippen are probably more likely to return to action shortly after All-Star weekend than before it.
A series of injuries affecting starters and other rotation players have prevented the Grizzlies from gaining any real momentum for most of the 2025/26 season. They’ve been below .500 since early November and currently have a 17-22 record. Memphis ranks 10th in the Western Conference and holds a one-game lead over the Clippers for the final play-in spot.
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