Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Injury Update: 1/28/14

As expected, most of the team's injured players underwent evaluations yesterday, with the exception of Kobe Bryant, who will see a doctor today. Surprisingly, there was some positive news on the injury front.

Steve Nash: Nash has been sidelined for what seems like forever with a nerve root injury, that apparently stemmed all the way back to last season's fractured leg suffered against Damian Lillard and the Portland Trailblazers. Nash has been rehabbing and training in Vancouver during select parts of the year and may finally play again sometime soon. According to the Lakers spokesman John Black, everything went well for Nash during his most recent time in Vancouver and he was expected to practice yesterday, but he tweaked his back (unrelated to the current injury) and wasn't able to participate. Nonetheless, Nash is listed as day-to-day and will likely practice on Thursday before determining if he will be able to go for Friday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Steve Blake: Blake was diagnosed with a torn collateral ligament in his right elbow and has been sidelined since December 13th. He was initially expected to miss 6-8 weeks while he recovered and he still could come back in time to meet the end of that timetable. Blake hasn't yet been cleared to return to practice, however he has been doing some basketball related activities that will ramp up by the end of the week before being reevaluated during the weekend.

Jordan Farmar: Farmar is in a similar boat as Blake; not yet able to practice, but cleared to do basketball related activities. Farmar tore his hamstring on January 3rd in a different location than his initial tear, and was initially supposed to be sidelined for at least 4 weeks. He will be reevaluated, along with Blake, at the end of the week.

Xavier Henry: Henry has been working out with the team, but isn't yet close to returning. He will likely be out for 10-14 more days and there hasn't been any new updates on his condition.

Jodie Meeks and Pau Gasol both have nagging injuries because of heavy minutes that are being logged in, particularly by Meeks. Meeks had an MRI for his nagging foot injury and it came back negative for a fracture. He is probable for today against Indiana. Pau continues to have toe problems, but is still listed as probable.