Jusuf Nurkić Sidelined for a Month with a Torn Toe Plate

The Utah Jazz are going to be without their starting center to open the regular season, and it is all because of a second toe.

NBA insider Chris Haynes reported Wednesday that Jusuf Nurkić suffered a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot. The big man will be sidelined for at least four weeks while he recovers.

"Chris Haynes reported the injury details and timeline."

Toe injuries always sound a little funny on paper, like something you get from walking to the kitchen in the dark. But when you are a 7-foot, 290-pound center who makes a living pivoting in the paint, a torn toe plate is basically a flat tire on a semi-truck.

The timing is brutal for Utah. The Jazz just finished splitting a pair of preseason matchups against the Denver Nuggets, dropping the most recent game 117-106. Now, instead of ramping up for opening night, they have to completely rewire their frontcourt rotation.

Missing a month means Nurkić is out until at least early November. Anyone holding tickets on Utah's early-season win totals or looking at rebounding props will need to adjust their math. Replacing a massive veteran center usually means leaning into small-ball lineups or throwing unproven bigs into the fire against starting-caliber NBA talent.

The Jazz will have to survive the first few weeks of the Western Conference gauntlet without their primary rim protector. Until Nurkić gets cleared to return, expect opposing guards to view the Utah paint as an open runway.