Cedric Coward will no longer be competing in the Rising Stars Challenge due to knee soreness from an injury suffered earlier this week. He was promptly replaced by promising Spurs forward Carter Bryant and will be re-evaluated after the break. This latest update is one that only adds to the concern of Grizzlies fans.
Earlier this week, Cedric Coward exited the February 9 loss against the Golden State Warriors with a knee injury. Coward had an awkward landing on a rebound late in the first half and did not return to the game. He was also ruled out for the loss in Denver two days ago with knee soreness.
Per Grizzlies team spokesperson, Cedric Coward will miss tonight’s Castrol Rising Stars Game due to right knee soreness and will be evaluated after All-Star Break
— Damichael Cole (@DamichaelC) February 13, 2026
This is not the first injury Coward has dealt with as a rookie
Even when Cedric Coward was drafted this summer, he was still recovering from a right shoulder surgery that he had on December 11, 2024. He ended up missing all of Summer League and was shaking off the rust during preseason. Despite having a very promising rookie season, Coward has picked up a few injuries along the way.
Despite Coward appearing in 48 games this season, he has been banged up throughout the year. Coward has dealt with a stress reaction in his right foot since December, part of the reason he hasn't played more minutes. He also sprained his ankle against the Lakers on January 4 and missed multiple weeks as a result.
Now, Coward's right knee soreness will be a story to watch, and it remains to be seen how much time he will end up missing.
Coward has exceeded his rookie expectations
In 48 games, Cedric Coward is averaging 13.3 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 2.9 assists despite not having a normal offseason. While Coward has been showing some signs of hitting the rookie wall lately, his rookie campaign has been impressive enough to believe he can be a key piece in Memphis going forward.
The Grizzlies have desperately been looking for more quality wings that can both defend and create offense, and Coward is looking like a solution. His rebounding and well-rounded offensive game have already been on display, and the exciting part is he still has room to grow as a creator. Coward also has the tools required to eventually become a very high-impact defender in Memphis.
It depends on how the Grizzlies' post-All-Star weekend update goes, but it seems likely that Coward will miss some time. This has already been an impressive rookie campaign, but the Grizzlies will be hoping he can return soon and get more quality development reps.