Jusuf Nurkic will not be ready for the start of the regular season. According to Chris Haynes, the Bosnian center has suffered a partial tear of the plantar plate of the second toe on his right foot, which will keep him out for at least four weeks, meaning we won’t see him back on the court until November.
NEWS: Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkić will be sidelined for at least 4 weeks after suffering a partial plantar plate tear of second toe in right foot, league sources tell me. https://t.co/4OGln9UHfl
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) October 7, 2026
If that timeline holds, Nurkic would miss the first eight games of the season, although if the Jazz opt for their usual caution with physical issues and his return is pushed back slightly beyond the stated four weeks the figure could be a bit higher. It’s true that this season, with higher competitive aspirations and having left behind the years of tanking, one wouldn’t expect Salt Lake City to take recuperation lightly; but the veteran center, as the oldest player on the roster, may deserve a touch more caution.
Above all, given that interior play is one of the areas where Utah has fewer guarantees. With Nurkic out, Will Hardy’s options at center are limited to Jaxson Hayes and Mo Bamba, two players with noticeable shortcomings in their games. The other alternative would be to deploy Jaren Jackson Jr. at the five, but his rebounding issues could generate many problems in an NBA that is increasingly determined to attack the boards.
Thus, filling Nurkic’s absence won’t be easy for the Jazz, who re-signed him this summer to a contract worth $22 million over two seasons. With averages of 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists, the Bosnian earned that deal during a solid 25-26 campaign, and now he will have to demonstrate that he can continue contributing to a team that is looking to compete and dream of the play-in spots.
