The Memphis Grizzlies’ 2025-26 season hasn’t even tipped off yet, but it’s already off to a rough start. In the span of just a few weeks, the team has lost three key players to injury: Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Zach Edey, throwing their early-season plans into uncertainty.
The most recent blow came Monday when the team announced that Ja Morant had suffered a sprained left ankle during practice. The star guard is now considered “week-to-week.” The news couldn’t have come at a worse time for Memphis, with its season opener against the New Orleans Pelicans less than three weeks away.
What makes the setback sting even more is that Morant had just finished telling reporters that his biggest goal this season was to stay healthy. Now, that hope already hangs in the balance.
Morant’s latest injury adds to a long list of health concerns that have defined his career. Since entering the league, he has never played more than 67 games in a season, missing time due to injuries, suspensions, and off-court issues.
Last year, Morant appeared in 50 games, averaging 23.2 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.1 rebounds while shooting 45.4% from the field. Despite his individual brilliance, the Grizzlies were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the eventual champion Oklahoma City Thunder.
This year was supposed to be a reset. New head coach Tuomas Iisalo was brought in to install a modern system around Morant, and the franchise hoped to move past the turbulence of recent seasons. But with Morant now sidelined, Iisalo’s first test will come sooner than expected.
And the problems don’t stop there. Jaren Jackson Jr., the reigning Defensive Player of the Year finalist, is also listed as ‘week-to-week’ following foot surgery. He’s been one of the league’s elite defenders and a vital part of Memphis’ identity. Without him, the Grizzlies lose their best rim protector and one of their most reliable scoring bigs.
Meanwhile, enter Zach Edey, the team’s first-round pick in 2024 and 2024 NCAA Player of the Year, is expected to miss at least the first month of the season due to an ankle injury. The 7-foot-4 star was projected to be a key piece, especially with Jackson rehabbing and Brandon Clarke still recovering from a knee procedure after a previous PCL injury.
That’s four frontcourt players either out or limited before the first preseason game, a nightmare scenario for a team built on defense and interior toughness.
Without Morant, Memphis will likely turn to Ty Jerome and Scotty Pippen Jr. to handle playmaking duties. The offense, already weakened by Desmond Bane’s trade to Orlando, will struggle to generate consistent scoring if Morant misses extended time.
It’s a frustrating twist for a franchise that looked poised to bounce back after a chaotic couple of years. The Grizzlies still have one of the youngest and most talented cores in the NBA, but health continues to be their Achilles’ heel.
If there’s a silver lining, it’s that none of the injuries are season-ending. Still, with the season opener fast approaching and key players sidelined, Memphis once again faces the same question it’s been battling for three years: Can the Grizzlies stay healthy long enough to compete?
