The Utah Jazz have suffered a major setback early in the season after forward Jaren Jackson Jr. was ruled out for at least six weeks with a right knee injury, while fellow star Lauri Markkanen is also dealing with a wrist problem.
Jackson sustained a tear to the medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee during the second quarter of Utah’s 110-105 defeat against the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday night.
The injury will keep the forward on the sidelines for a significant period, dealing another blow to a Jazz team that has already seen two of its leading offensive players suffer injuries in the same contest.
Markkanen, meanwhile, sprained his right wrist during the opening quarter against Memphis and has been listed as day to day.
While the Finnish forward’s injury appears less serious than Jackson’s, his availability for Utah’s upcoming games remains uncertain.
The timing of the setbacks is particularly concerning for the Jazz, with Jackson and Markkanen having established themselves among the team’s most important scoring options.
Both players ranked among Utah’s top three scorers through the opening three games of the season, making their potential absence a major challenge for the team’s offensive plans.
Jackson’s latest injury is especially frustrating given his recent struggles to remain healthy since joining the franchise.
The forward arrived in Utah following a trade from the Memphis Grizzlies last season but managed just three appearances for his new team before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee.
Having returned to action, Jackson now faces another lengthy spell away from the court, this time because of damage to his right knee.
Markkanen has also experienced repeated injury interruptions during his time with the Jazz.
The forward featured in only 89 games across the previous two seasons and has not played more than 66 games in a single campaign since arriving in Utah ahead of the 2022-23 season.
His latest wrist problem raises fresh concerns about his ability to maintain a consistent run of appearances.
With Jackson expected to miss at least six weeks, Utah will need other members of its roster to take on greater responsibility at both ends of the floor.
The Jazz will also be hoping Markkanen makes a quick recovery to prevent the team’s early-season injury problems from becoming even more damaging.
For now, Utah faces the difficult task of moving forward without Jackson while monitoring Markkanen’s fitness ahead of its next fixtures.
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