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The San Antonio Spurs have ruled out nine players, including Victor Wembanyama, for their preseason game against the Utah Jazz. The absences are due to a mix of pre-planned rest and injuries.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The San Antonio Spurs will be without nine players for their preseason game against the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The list of absentees includes center Victor Wembanyama, guard De'Aaron Fox, and forward Devin Vassell, among others.
According to the San Antonio Express-News, the Spurs planned before the preseason to give several main players the night off for rest in Salt Lake City. However, some players are also dealing with injuries. Carter Bryant is nursing an ankle injury, De'Aaron Fox has hip issues, Tobias Harris has a calf strain, and Jayden Quaintance is rehabbing from knee surgery.
Sports Illustrated notes that four of the five players who started the Spurs' first two preseason games will miss Monday's contest for pre-planned rest. Julian Champagnie is the only player who started the last two games and is scheduled to play.
Carter Bryant suffered a right ankle injury on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns. He stepped on Devin Vassell's foot while defending a possession in the second quarter. Spurs coach Mitch Johnson said after the game, "I don’t know any details," regarding Bryant's injury, adding, "but he stepped on Devin’s foot. Hopefully he’s okay, but yeah, I’m not quite sure."
De'Aaron Fox has not yet made his preseason debut. He was scratched before the opener against the Atlanta Hawks due to hip soreness, which Johnson later clarified as general tightness. Johnson cited an "abundance of precaution" for Fox, who is entering his 10th NBA season.
Tobias Harris will miss the entirety of the preseason due to a left calf strain suffered during training camp. He is set to be re-evaluated after the five-game slate and remains questionable for the regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jayden Quaintance continues to recover from a torn ACL and meniscus suffered in February 2025, with an additional procedure in July. "The plan for him is to get it right," Johnson said during Media Day. "To take it slow and to make sure we get it right."
The Utah Jazz will also be missing key players. Kyle Filipowski is out with a lower-back issue. Jusuf Nurkić will miss at least four weeks with a partial plantar plate tear in his right foot, an injury suffered during Utah’s first preseason game against the Denver Nuggets on Oct. 4.
The Spurs' decision to rest multiple key players, including Victor Wembanyama, highlights their strategy to manage player health during the preseason. With the regular season opener against the Oklahoma City Thunder scheduled for Oct. 20, the team is prioritizing long-term availability over preseason results. The game provides an opportunity for the Spurs to evaluate remaining personnel, including rookie Tarris Reed Jr., while the Jazz navigate their own injury challenges.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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