After disastrous year, Grizzlies already dealing with injury to star big man

While Jenkins currently anticipates Jackson is back for the team's season opener, this is a bad sign for a team that's already missing two projected rotation players. All-Rookie forward GG Jackson had surgery for a broken foot that will keep him out until at least December . Forward Vince Williams has a stress reaction in his shin that will be sideline him past the beginning of the season.

Jackson has missed 35 games over the past two seasons with various injuries. That's not terrible for a shot-blocking big man, but it's worrisome that he's already hurt in the first week of training camp.

Last year, Memphis lost Ja Morant for the season with a torn labrum in his shoulder. The All-Star guard was cleared to return to the court in July. Desmond Bane missed 29 games with an ankle injury and 10 games with back problems. Marcus Smart missed so much time with a foot strain and a hand injury (62 games) that he told reporters he was changing his intense approach for training camp because he has "a lot of miles" on his body.

The Grizzlies could very well return to form this year and compete near the top of a wide-open Western Conference. But another big injury or two could quickly send them down a similar path as last year.