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By Bryan Colbert Jr.
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The Utah Jazz have suffered a significant setback just four games into the NBA season, with one of their biggest stars expected to miss an extended period.
According to ESPN's Shams Charania, Jaren Jackson Jr. has suffered a torn medial collateral ligament (MCL) in his right knee and is expected to miss six to eight weeks.
The injury will not require surgery, providing some encouraging news for Utah despite the lengthy recovery timeline.
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Jackson suffered the injury during Monday night's 110-105 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, his former team.
The 27-year-old forward went down early in the second quarter after Memphis guard Ty Jerome fell into his right leg, causing his knee to bend awkwardly.
Jackson immediately left the game and was eventually ruled out for the remainder of the contest. Before exiting, he recorded six points, three rebounds and two assists in just 10 minutes.
The injury comes at a particularly unfortunate time for Jackson, who was beginning his first full season with the Jazz after arriving from Memphis in a trade last season.
Jackson appeared in just three games for Utah during the 2025-26 campaign before undergoing season-ending surgery on his left knee.
Now, another knee injury will interrupt his opportunity to establish himself alongside Markkanen in Utah's frontcourt.
Jackson entered Monday's matchup averaging 19.7 points and 5.7 rebounds through the team's first three games. His absence creates a significant challenge for a Jazz team already struggling to find consistency.
Utah has opened the season with a 1-3 record, and Jackson wasn't the only starter injured during Monday's defeat.
Markkanen also exited the game in the first quarter after suffering a right wrist injury, leaving the Jazz without their two most established frontcourt players.
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While Jackson's recovery timeline offers hope that he could return before the end of December, Utah now faces the challenge of remaining competitive without one of its most important contributors.
His absence will place additional pressure on the Jazz's younger players to step into larger roles as the team attempts to overcome its difficult start.
With Jackson sidelined for at least six weeks and uncertainty surrounding Markkanen's availability, Utah's frontcourt depth will be tested. How the Jazz respond over the coming weeks could play a significant role in determining the direction of their season.
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