Bulls Roster Shift: Jaden Ivey Sidelined 14 Days; Zach Collins Undergoes Season-Ending Surgery

Jaden Ivey will miss at least two weeks due to left knee soreness, while Zach Collins is scheduled for season-ending right toe surgery following a 10-game stint.

CHICAGO — The Chicago Bulls medical staff confirmed Saturday that guard Jaden Ivey will be sidelined for a minimum of 14 days due to persistent soreness in his left knee. This announcement coincided with the news that center Zach Collins is scheduled for season-ending surgery on his right toe. Ivey, who joined the Bulls via a three-team trade on February 3, has participated in four contests for Chicago, averaging 11.5 points and 4.0 assists across 28.9 minutes per game. His absence leaves a significant void in the backcourt rotation just as the team prepares to face the Detroit Pistons at United Center.

Prior to his arrival in Illinois, the 24-year-old guard appeared in 33 games for Detroit this season, contributing 8.2 points and 1.6 assists in 16.8 minutes per night. The Jaden Ivey injury stems from a lack of functional leg strength required to support his explosive style of play, a deficiency identified during recent physical evaluations. Medical professionals noted that the guard's workload spiked significantly upon joining Billy Donovan’s squad, jumping nearly 12 minutes per game compared to his previous role. The upcoming two-week hiatus is designed specifically for a strength-building protocol to stabilize the joint before a formal reevaluation occurs.

Zach Collins concludes his 2025-26 campaign having played only 10 games for the Bulls. The 6-foot-11 big man averaged 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds in 18.4 minutes during his limited floor time. His season was derailed early by a broken bone in his hand that forced him to miss the initial 21 games of the schedule. After returning to action, the right toe injury surfaced in late December, eventually requiring the surgical intervention announced this weekend. Donovan confirmed that the decision for surgery followed several failed attempts to manage the pain through non-invasive therapies.

Ivey’s medical history has been a recurring theme throughout the calendar year. He underwent surgery for a fractured left fibula in January 2025 and followed that with an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee in October 2025. These consecutive setbacks resulted in him missing the first 15 games of the current season. The Bulls coaching staff observed that Ivey lacked his trademark verticality and lateral quickness during his recent 28.9-minute average stint, prompting the decision to prioritize long-term recovery over immediate availability.

Statistical analysis of Ivey's four games in Chicago reveals a player struggling with efficiency despite the scoring output. While he maintained a double-digit scoring average, his ability to create separation in isolation sets declined between the first and fourth quarters. Billy Donovan highlighted that the guard’s "stopping and starting" mechanics were visibly compromised. The team’s front office remains committed to the 24-year-old’s development, viewing this 14-day window as a necessary investment in his future durability within the organization’s high-tempo offensive system.

With Collins officially out for the remainder of the year, the Bulls lose a frontcourt piece that provided 5.6 rebounds per contest. The center’s absence forces a recalibration of the bench unit, which had relied on his 18.4 minutes of nightly interior presence. The combination of the Jaden Ivey injury and the loss of Collins leaves Chicago shorthanded as they navigate the post-trade deadline portion of their schedule. The roster currently features several new acquisitions from the February 3 deal who must now absorb the 47.3 combined minutes vacated by these two players.

During the 33 games Ivey played for the Pistons earlier this year, he shot a lower percentage from the field than he has during his brief tenure in Chicago. However, the increased volume of shots in the Bulls' system—where he took nearly 10 attempts per game—placed additional strain on his lower extremities. The medical team’s testing indicated that the muscle groups surrounding his left knee were not firing at the capacity needed to sustain NBA-level deceleration. This specific physiological data was the primary driver behind the mandatory two-week rest period.

Chicago's training staff will focus on eccentric loading exercises for Ivey during his rehabilitation. The goal is to restore the 11.5-point scorer to the physical baseline he occupied prior to the January 2025 fibula fracture. Meanwhile, Collins will begin a recovery process for his toe that is expected to extend through the summer months, aiming for a full return by the start of the next training camp. The Bulls enter their next matchup with a depleted roster, missing two key contributors who were expected to stabilize the team's mid-season push.