Jrue Holiday Injury: Updates on Pelicans Star's Ankle and Return

Tyler ConwayJan 14, 2015

New Orleans Pelicans guard Jrue Holiday has dealt with an ankle injury for the majority of this season but will return Friday night to face the Phoenix Suns.

Continue for updates.

Holiday Will Play vs. Suns

Friday, April 10

John Reid of NOLA.com reported that Holiday will play Friday night vs. Phoenix.

Holiday Participates in Practice

Friday, March 13

Holiday took part in limited shooting work today, according to Reid. Reid added more details on Holiday's practice session, and comments from coach Monty Williams:

"
He was dressed in practice gear and was also seen participating in one of the Pelicans' free-throw shooting drills near the end of the practice.
'He was just out on the floor with Carlos (Daniels Pelicans director of athletic development), nothing practice oriented or in a practice pace,' Williams said.''He was just out there shooting a little a bit and bouncing around.'
"

Holiday No Longer in Walking Boot

Wednesday, March 4

"Jrue Holiday no longer is in walking boot but said right lower-leg injury still has to be evaluated. Still pain, swelling," relayed Darrell J. Williams of NewOrleansAdvocate.com.

Reid first reported on Feb. 25 that Holiday was in a walking boot after aggravating his ankle injury. Reid noted, "Holiday's injury is in the same area that required surgery last season because of a stress fracture in his right tibia after playing in only 34 games."

He also provided a comment from Holiday, who stated, "This is completely different. Difference is that I had a crack in my shin last year, I don't have a crack now. I've got to two weeks in this boot to see how it goes."

On Feb. 18, the Pelicans announced that Holiday aggravated the stress reaction in his leg.

Williams Comments on Holiday's Injury

Wednesday, Jan. 14

Pelicans coach Monty Williams spoke on Holiday's injury, per the team:

"
We think it’s day-to-day, but we’re not going to put a timetable on Jrue. One thing our fans have to understand is that if Jrue is in pain, he’s in pain. I had to be his brains the other day (in Boston). I had to sit him down. He wanted to continue (to play), but I didn’t like what I saw from him. It was tough for me to do that, but we always look out for our players.
"

Holiday, 24, was initially pulled at halftime of the loss to the Boston Celtics on Jan. 12. The former All-Star was showing signs of pain in his right leg, and Williams chose to sit him down for precautionary reasons. Holiday missed more than half of the 2013-14 NBA campaign due to an injured lower leg.

Having him back in the lineup provides the Pelicans with one more dangerous weapon to help support superstar Anthony Davis.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.