Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards appears to have avoided a major ankle injury after suffering what looked to be a significant ankle sprain during Friday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls in double overtime.
Edwards was injured late in the first quarter after jumping to make a cross-court pass to Mike Conley. Upon landing, Edwards’ right ankle rolled and he crumpled to the ground in obvious pain. He was eventually helped to the locker room without being able to put weight on his foot, and many feared that a season-ending injury may have occurred. And while the team has yet to announce a timeline for his return, it has been reported that Edwards is no longer wearing a walking boot and the swelling around his ankle has decreased.
You can see a video of the injury below:
Anthony Edwards is down in pain after appearing to sprain his right ankle. 🙏#RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/TTh6UZZqnl
— Bally Sports North (@BallySportsNOR) March 18, 2023
When Will Anthony Edwards Return?
Edwards suffered a classic inversion sprain, with the foot rolling outward and the damage felt most by the deltoid ligaments. He’ll want to let the swelling subside before working to restrengthen these ligaments with physical therapy, otherwise he may be at risk for another sprain in the future. When ligaments don’t full heal after a sprain, this is known as ankle instability, and it’s especially problematic for basketball players who rely on quick cuts and explosive jumps.
It’s a little tough to speculate on when Edwards may return based on the extent of the injury alone, but we can take a closer look at Minnesota’s schedule and see how it may line up with a return from a moderate ankle sprain. Edwards did not play in yesterday’s game against the New York Knicks, and the Wolves are off tonight before hosting Atlanta on Wednesday. After that, the team is off until Sunday, so he can take more than a full week off and only miss two games if he returns before Sunday’s contest. We’ll likely have more information before then, but that certainly seems like a reasonable date for a return given how much healing has already taken place and the overall optimism regarding the injury.
The team will have a delicate balancing act to consider here. They are currently tied for the final playoff spot in the play-in round, but they also don’t want to jeopardize the long-term health of their best player by rushing him back too quickly. We’ll keep tabs on how the situation plays out, and hopefully Edwards can return with confidence in his ankle to help the team secure a playoff bid before the season ends. We wish him the best of luck in his recovery.