Utah Jazz injury update: 6-foot-11 center hit with concerning news before NBA season opener

Utah Jazz center Jusuf Nurkic will miss at least four weeks with a partial plantar plate tear in the second toe of his right foot, Prime Video's Chris Haynes reported. The injury takes the expected starting center off the floor for Utah's first eight regular-season games, a stretch from Oct. 21 through Nov. 4. The 6-foot-11 big man was set to open the season as the starter again. He logged 11 minutes in the preseason opener at Denver on Sunday, then sat out Tuesday's rematch at home.How serious is Jusuf Nurkic's toe injury?Sunday's 109-97 win gave Nurkic four points, five rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Monday's open practice went by without him. By Tuesday, he was out of the lineup for a 117-106 loss to the Nuggets.The $22 million center re-signed on a two-year deal this summer, a year after Utah acquired him from Charlotte in June 2025. The 32-year-old is entering his 13th NBA season and second in Utah. Last year he averaged 10.9 points, 10.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 26.4 minutes over 41 games, 36 of them starts, on 50.3 percent shooting. He also became the first Jazz player to string together three straight triple-doubles.Health has cut into Nurkic's seasons before. He missed the final 27 games of 2025-26 after nose surgery for a deviated septum. He was the stopgap at center after Walker Kessler lost almost all of that year to a labral tear in his left shoulder, so another lost stretch lands on a thin spot.Who starts at center for the Jazz while Nurkic is out?Jaxson Hayes got the start in Tuesday's loss to Denver. The eight-year veteran signed a two-year contract with Utah this summer after time with the Pelicans and Lakers. Kyle Filipowski and Mo Bamba are also on the roster at center, and Bamba is still fighting for a spot.Ace Bailey and slide Jaren Jackson Jr. to center. Matt John of The J-Notes argues Bailey, Jackson, Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George and Darryn Peterson make up Utah's strongest group, though the Jazz may not want opponents scouting it this early. Peterson, the No. 2 pick, led all scorers with 23 points in the second preseason game, so the young core is already producing without the veteran.Further, Utah can sign a player from outside the building to cover the gap.Stay updated with the latest Asian Games 2026 news, check the Asian Games medal tally and complete Asian Games schedule.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.