Walker Kessler will miss the final four games of the Utah Jazz’s current five-game road trip after being sent back to Salt Lake City for further evaluation on his left shoulder, according to Andy Larson of the Salt Lake Tribune.
Kessler had previously dealt with left shoulder bursitis that caused him to miss much of the preseason, though he had managed to play in each of Utah’s first five regular-season games.
During that span, he has posted career-best numbers across several categories – averaging 14.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.8 blocks per game – while emerging as the team’s third-leading scorer and defensive anchor.
He has also expanded his offensive range, attempting 1.6 three-pointers per game, up from just 0.6 last season.
The 23-year-old center is in a contract year after failing to agree on a rookie-scale extension with the Jazz before the deadline. He is expected to become a restricted free agent next summer.
Shoulder bursitis, the issue that sidelined him earlier, involves inflammation or irritation of the bursae – fluid-filled sacs that cushion the area between the rotator cuff and shoulder blade.
The team is conducting additional testing to determine the extent of the injury.
With Kessler unavailable, Jusuf Nurkic will start in his place. Larson notes that Nurkic is expected to remain in the starting lineup for the rest of the road trip, which includes games against the Celtics, Pistons, and Timberwolves.
So far this season, Nurkic is averaging 7.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.4 steals in just 17.2 minutes per game.
Walker Kessler To Undergo Tests On Left Shoulder https://t.co/zT5KExFH4r pic.twitter.com/QXAKSNSUVh
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 2, 2025
