Jazz say Jaren Jackson Jr. has a torn MCL in his right knee; he's expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks, ESPN reports

As of 7:27 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026

Utah Jazz forward-center Jaren Jackson Jr. tore the MCL in his right knee in Monday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies and will be re-evaluated in six weeks, the team said Tuesday.

Jackson is expected to miss 6 to 8 weeks and will not need surgery, ESPN's Shams Charania reported, citing sources who spoke to him and ESPN's Tim MacMahon. The Jazz's statement did not give a timeline beyond the re-evaluation or mention surgery.

The Jazz also said forward Lauri Markkanen sprained his right wrist in the same game and is day-to-day.

The injury

Jackson left with 10:04 left in the second quarter of Utah's 110-105 home loss to Memphis, his former team, after hurting his right knee, the Associated Press reported. He had six points, three rebounds and two assists in 10 minutes. Markkanen left in the first quarter holding his right wrist, according to the AP. Utah coach Will Hardy said after the game that both players would have imaging Tuesday.

Jackson, a former NBA Defensive Player of the Year, has averaged 16.3 points and five rebounds through four games this season, The Salt Lake Tribune reported. He is Utah's starting center, and the Jazz are already without center Jusuf Nurkić, who has a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot, according to NBA.com and the Tribune.

Utah got Jackson in a trade with Memphis last season. He played only three games for the Jazz before season-ending surgery on his left knee, the AP reported.