This article was first published as the Jazz Insiders newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox each Friday.
A number of Utah Jazz players have already been ruled out for the rest of the 2025-26 season — Walker Kessler, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Jusuf Nurkić — but there are many wondering if they’ll see Lauri Markkanen or Keyonte George suit up again for the Jazz before the season is over.
Let’s start with Markkanen’s situation. Whether you believe the validity of Markkanen’s injury, the Jazz said that the forward would be out at least two weeks after announcing he had a hip impingement.
Well, he’s been out more than three weeks since that injury and the Jazz said on Thursday that once again, Markkanen will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That would take him to April 2. The Jazz would have five games remaining at that point, starting with a three-game road trip.
After missing at least five weeks away from the court, it’s unlikely, even if he is cleared to play, that the Jazz would throw Markkanen into the lineup without a reconditioning ramp up of some sort.
So, I’d be willing to bet that Markkanen won’t be suiting up again this season.
George’s case is not as easy to decipher. He left the March 11 game against the Knicks with a hamstring strain that has kept him out since then. At the time, the Jazz said that he would be evaluated in approximately two weeks, which would be March 26.
If — and this is a gigantic “if” — George is cleared to return prior to the two weeks, and is able to play on Monday (March 23) and then for the remainder of the games following that (11 total) he would still be eligible to receive votes for Most Improved Player.
But, if the Jazz don’t clear him before the two-week mark, he will be ineligible for end-of-season awards. At that point, the Jazz could very easily want to err on the side of caution. It would be hard to reason risking injury with so few games remaining.
If we make it to March 26 without a really positive update on George, it’s possible that the Jazz hold him out for the rest of the year. But even if he is able to return at some point in the final days of the season, it probably won’t be for every game and it won’t be at a high usage rate.
Overall, the Jazz have turned their eyes toward having a full and healthy roster for the 2026-27 campaign, which means they want all their players at full strength going into this offseason.
New with the Jazz
From the archives
Extra points
- Jordan Clarkson sparks Knicks comeback in return to Delta Center (Deseret News)
- The Jazz lost to the Kings. Welcome to the dog days of the season (Deseret News)
- Love of the game worth the madness that comes with being a ref (Deseret News)
Around the league
- The complicated situation surrounding Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Pistons’ Cade Cunningham out with collapsed lung
Up next
- March 21 | 7:30 p.m. MDT | Utah Jazz vs. Philadelphia 76ers | KJZZ
- March 23 | 7 p.m. MDT | Utah Jazz vs. Toronto Raptors | KJZZ
- March 25 | 7 p.m. MDT | Utah Jazz vs. Washington Wizards | KJZZ
- March 27 | 7 p.m. MDT | Utah Jazz @ Denver Nuggets | KJZZ