John Collins has been diagnosed with a left lateral ankle sprain, the Utah Jazz announced Wednesday.
The veteran power forward underwent an MRI on Thursday, and the team will reassess his condition in two weeks to determine his recovery progress.
Collins sustained the injury during the fourth quarter of Utah’s recent loss to the Memphis Grizzlies.
He had already been ruled out for Thursday’s matchup against the Toronto Raptors before the Jazz provided an official update on his status.
Now in his second season with Utah, the player has struggled with injuries throughout the year, limiting him to just 40 games.
Despite the setbacks, he has remained a key contributor, averaging 19.0 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 30.5 minutes per game while posting an efficient 52.7% shooting from the field and an impressive 39.9% from beyond the arc.
Collins was heavily mentioned in trade rumors leading up to last month’s deadline, including a reported discussion with the Sacramento Kings.
However, the Jazz ultimately opted to retain him, keeping him under contract as he approaches a pivotal offseason decision.
With a $26.58 million player option for the 2025-26 season, Collins must decide by June 30 whether to opt in or test free agency.
In his absence, recently acquired forward KJ Martin has stepped into the starting lineup, a trend that is expected to continue.
Additionally, young players like Kyle Filipowski and Brice Sensabaugh could see expanded roles as Utah navigates Collins’ recovery timeline.
Details on John Collins' timeline after he was diagnosed with a lateral ankle sprain: https://t.co/J2abie9q2b
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 15, 2025
