Injuries limited Wendell Carter Jr.’s first season with the Chicago Bulls and will apparently do so in his second season, too.
An MRI on Carter Jr.’s right ankle has revealed a high sprain that will cause him to miss multiple weeks, the Bulls announced Thursday night. Carter Jr. suffered the injury on Monday against Dallas in the third quarter of a 118-110 loss to the Mavs.
Carter Jr. underwent an MRI and CT Scan which confirmed a severe right ankle sprain. It is estimated he will be out 4-6 weeks.
Taken seventh overall in the 2018 Draft, Carter Jr. has been a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing season for Chicago. The second-year center is averaging 11.7 points and 9.9 rebounds while shooting 53.7% this season.
A left thumb injury limited Carter Jr.’s to just 44 games in his rookie season. The Bulls’ frontline was already thinned due to Otto Porter Jr. being out of the lineup since early November with a left foot injury. The latest reports have Porter Jr. likely to return to the lineup sometime after the All-Star break.
The Bulls also announced that Otto Porter Jr. has exhibited progress in his rehabilitation from a broken left foot earlier this season.
A repeat MRI and CT Scan was performed on Porter Jr. which showed ongoing bone healing. He will continue his gradual increase of non-basketball activities.
The Bulls (13-25) are No. 11 in the Eastern Conference and trail the No. 8-seeded Brooklyn Nets by four games in the standings. They have lost five straight and six of their last seven games.
