Jahlil Okafor to Miss 1-2 Weeks After MRI Reveals Ankle Injury to Be Sprain
New Orleans Pelicans center Jahlil Okafor has been diagnosed with a sprained right ankle that will sideline him between one and two weeks, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Okafor suffered the injury during Sunday's preseason loss to the Chicago Bulls, and the severity was confirmed following an MRI. The former No. 3 overall pick finished with eight points, seven rebounds and a pair of blocks before departing New Orleans' exhibition opener.
The Pelicans have one preseason game remaining this week (Friday vs. the New York Knicks) before they close out their schedule with tilts against the Miami Heat (Oct. 10) and Toronto Raptors (Oct. 11).
Should Okafor only miss one week, he should be back in time for the final two showdowns. However, an extended recuperation period would keep him sidelined for the duration of the preseason.
For a player who signed a prove-it deal that includes just $50,000 in guaranteed salary and can easily be cut prior to the start of the regular season, that's hardly good news.
