After undergoing further evaluation on Wednesday, Pelicans star Zion Williamson received a biologic injection into the fracture site in his right foot in order to stimulate bone healing, the team announced today in a press release.
Williamson, who has experienced a couple setbacks in his rehab process this month, will be limited to “low-impact, partial weight-bearing activites” for the foreseeable future, according to the team. The Pelicans say they’ll have another update on the former No. 1 overall pick in about four-to-six weeks, when further imaging is conducted on his foot.
Andrew Lopez of ESPN (video link) said during a TV appearance earlier this week that Williamson’s recovery from offseason foot surgery isn’t a “shut him down for the season”-type issue, adding that the Pelicans believe Zion will return at some point in the new year. However, today’s news is the latest in a series of discouraging updates on the forward’s recovery process since he told reporters on Media Day that he hoped to play on opening night.
A four-to-six week timeline means it’ll be mid-to-late January before we get another update on Williamson, and there’s no guarantee he’ll be on the verge of returning at that point.
While I don’t want to jump to any conclusions, Zion’s ongoing absence could result in some difficult decisions for the 9-21 Pelicans at the trade deadline and in the 2022 offseason, when the 21-year-old will become eligible for a rookie scale extension.
News just gets worse and worse with this guy. Less time to get in shape and more time to gain weight. I hope people get through to this kid and he changes his habits. Poor NO. They are a mess
Better to plug Zion out for this season so he can fully recover… Pels could pick a top #5 and reshape the roster and evaluate Zion extension.
Recover from what? He will just get more out of shape and make it more likely his foot never gets right.
Poor NO?? They put themselves in this mess, they deserve every ounce of it
Was it bacon grease?
Zion is having repeated leg injuries which have now become foot injuries. Either Zach Lowe or Andrew Lopez said Zion needs Lebron level conditioning to be successful long term. Zion is looking more and more like an ESPN 30 for 30 doc subject on what could have been.
Its really sad the injury part, i mean he is as talented as you can hope for a top prospect. But the weight thing is 100% on him, and the overweight makes any injury a lot worse.
So im kinda sad but at the same time, its his fault. At the end of the day he is set for life, moneywise
He’s gotta stop hangin out with Zach Lavine pounding Mt Dew…
He’s a max player even if he doesn’t play a game this year. It’s a no-brainer. Trade whatever you can for future assets. This actually improves the likelihood of him resigning in New Orleans, and they were never going to contend this year anyway. They definitely need a GM with more imagination than Griffin, though.
76ers did not give a max extension to Embiid when he suffered multiple injuries.
if Zion is not a starter is he eligible to full max? that’s maybe why he was pushing too hard to come back asap also …
Zion is 6’6 and weighs more than Embiid ever has at 7’2.
Agreed. I was utterly perplexed with his free agency. They came in needing a big backcourt upgrade and instead got a big backcourt downgrade.
Devonte Graham < Lonzo Ball
Nickeil Alexander-Walker < Eric Bledsoe
At the time I liked the Adams, Bledsoe-Valanciunas trade cause I assumed that they would sign someone like Dennis Schroder, but no. This team needs a big turnaround, badly.
All they made were moves for the sake of making moves. No real defined objectives, no real upgrades. It’s exactly what Griffin did all those years in Cleveland. Just randomly shaking things up and hoping for improved outcomes.
The main problem with Zion is he suffers from Geno Balgum or “knock kneed”. His knees have a tendency to lean inward to the point they almost touch in certain stances. it puts a lot of pressure on the knees, ligaments and mcl. add to the fact hes a high flyer and you can imagine thst he’s going to have a lot of problems with his feet, ankles, shin, knees and hips if he doesn’t have the knees. He also has to learn how to land properly to avoid further damage. I think LBJ is slightly knock kneed too. he’s learned how are.
excuse typos. I meant that LBJ has learned to condition his legs to strengthen his knee structure and has learned how to land properly on his dunks, etc.
It’s all in how you land, and planning your route before you jump to avoid impacts on your way down. Sometimes it takes a while to master it. Lebron definitely has.
I hope someone has told Zion that injecting a jelly filled donut directly into the fracture won’t heal it faster….
Lol good one
They should look into moving Zion for whatever they can
Poor kid such a shame all the injuries, he is such a nice kid!
Also is a shame for the fans as he is a top player in the league, so we missing on his show!
Shame for all the trolls here trying to fat shame the kid, leave him alone, like right now, he ain’t no fat at all, that is the most ridiculous thing I read in this site full of ridiculous trolls, outrageous!
No he’s fat
It is always at the least a bad sign when a very big young basketball player is having bone healing problems in his feet considering the stress the game puts on the legs and feet. Most fans know about players from Bill Walton onwards who had recurring foot problems. What should be done as a minimum action is to put ZW on a high protein very low carb diet to get his weight down to relieve some stress on his foot.
Starts with his “knock knees”. That needs to be addressed or something from the bottom down will linger.
Diabetic at this early age with an extremely poor diet ☠️= bad for his career
@uncle1sock
he’s far from being a diabetic.
Oliver Miller 2.0
Trade Him before you can’t.Already injury prone, now he’s gaining weight.Hard to motivate youngsters when they are already rich.The weight thing is just flat out lazy.
He should stop injecting food into his body at such a high rate.