Jaren Jackson Jr. Sidelined 6-8 Weeks With Torn MCL; Markkanen Day-to-Day

Jaren Jackson Jr. is expected to miss six to eight weeks after sustaining a torn MCL in his right knee during Monday's game.

Utah Jazz power forward Jaren Jackson Jr. sustained a torn MCL in his right knee and will be reevaluated in six weeks, the team announced Tuesday. Sources told ESPN that the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year faces a six- to eight-week recovery timeline. The injury occurred during Monday night's home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies when guard Ty Jerome fell into Jackson, causing his knee to buckle.

Lauri Markkanen also exited Monday's contest in the first half and is considered day-to-day with a sprained right wrist. The 7-foot forward’s injury affects his shooting hand, which the team noted is a concern for the volume 3-point shooter. These injuries further deplete a frontcourt already missing starting center Jusuf Nurkic, who is sidelined with a partial plantar plate tear in his right second toe and will not be reevaluated until early November.

Jackson has appeared in only three games for Utah since being acquired from Memphis in a blockbuster trade that cost the Jazz three first-round picks. He missed the majority of last season following surgery to remove a growth in his left knee. The Jazz had hoped the two-time All-Star would lead the franchise back to competitiveness this season.