Walker Kessler will be out for the third week due to an elbow injury.
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Utah Jazz announced on Monday that Walker Kessler will be out for at least another week due to a left elbow ailment.
On November 8, the Jazz announced that the second-year centre would be reevaluated in two weeks due to an ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) strain in his left elbow.
The organisation updated the injury timeline just shy of the two-week mark, noting that Kessler had returned to the court for some on-court activities.
“Walker Kessler continues to make progress and has been cleared to begin basketball contact this week,” the Jazz announced in a statement. “The injury occurred on Oct. 25 during Utah’s season-opening game against the Sacramento Kings.” In one week, he will be reevaluated.”
Kessler claimed his injury was improving, but he doesn’t want to return to the court before he’s fully recovered.
“I’m feeling better and taking it day by day, working with the staff,” he said. “I’m excited to get back out there, but don’t want to skip out on any of the treatment.”
Kessler Was Off To A Slow Start Prior To Injury
Kessler had a rough start to his sophomore season after a spectacular rookie season, averaging 8.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks in his first eight outings.
The centre was also shooting only 55 percent from the field, despite nearly leading the NBA in that category previous season at 72 percent.
The Jazz are 2-4 in Kessler’s absence and have seen their defensive rating worsen from 117.9 with the Auburn product in the lineup to 121.6 in his absence.
“I think we’re a lot better than what our record shows,” Kessler said of the Jazz’s 4-9 start to the year, “and I think that throughout the season that will continue to be apparent.”
Veteran forward John Collins has averaged 15.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks in place of Kessler while shooting 51 percent from the floor and 58 percent from three.
Prior to Kessler’s next injury evaluation, the Jazz will have games on the road against the Los Angeles Lakers and Portland Trail Blazers, before returning home to host the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday.
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