More injury news arrived for the Memphis Grizzlies on March 1, a little more than an hour before their road matchup against the Indiana Pacers.
The Grizzlies went on to win 125-106, and Walter Clayton Jr. set a rookie franchise record with 14 assists. But that won’t be the main talking point the following morning.
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Two Grizzlies centers — Brandon Clarke and Zach Edey — are both expected to miss more time, decreasing their chances of playing again this season. Edey will undergo surgery to address lingering discomfort and a stress issue in the talus bone of his left ankle.
While Edey is expected to make a full recovery, the continued ankle problems are noteworthy. When he underwent surgery in June 2025 to stabilize the ankle, the hope was that he would return healthy early in the season.
That return came Nov. 15 and lasted only 11 games before a stress reaction surfaced in the same ankle.
The big picture with Edey
This was supposed to be the season he would make a significant leap. The flashes were there, but injuries have limited his availability.
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Memphis remains hopeful that he can be one of the players who leads the franchise into its next era. Drafted No. 9 overall in 2024, he is viewed as a potential cornerstone as the organization reshapes its roster.
Edey’s development carries added weight because it directly affects the Grizzlies’ ability to build a contender again. The upcoming procedure is expected to accelerate bone healing, and because the initial surgery stabilized the ankle, another successful outcome could finally put the lingering issue behind the 7-foot-3 center.
Where Memphis goes next
The Grizzlies (23-36) have won two straight, beating the Pacers (15-46) and Mavericks (21-39). The schedule stiffens from here, with three games against teams with better records.
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Zooming out, the Grizzlies are not expecting to have Clarke — who will be reevaluated in two weeks as he continues to recover from a right calf strain suffered Dec. 20 — anytime soon. Taj Gibson, Taylor Hendricks and Olivier-Maxence Prosper are expected to absorb most of the minutes at center.
Santi Aldama and Cedric Coward appear to be closer to returning after being upgraded to doubtful ahead of the Pacers game.
The remainder of the season now becomes an evaluation period. While this is a significant missed opportunity for Edey’s development, it does open the door for Memphis to get an extended look at its younger pieces heading into the offseason.
Damichael Cole is the Memphis Grizzlies beat writer for The Commercial Appeal. Contact Damichael at damichael.cole@commercialappeal.com. Follow Damichael on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DamichaelC.
This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Zach Edey injury, surgery overshadow Grizzlies’ game vs Pacers