It felt pretty inevitable for a while now, but Zach Edey's season is officially over. Edey had previously been out since December due to a stress reaction in his surgically repaired left ankle. He was having a monster impact in the 11 games he played this season, but we will have to wait until next season before he plays again.
The @memgrizz today announced the following medical updates for Zach Edey and Brandon Clarke: pic.twitter.com/XRTRwMBBNQ
— Grizzlies PR (@GrizzliesPR) March 1, 2026
Brandon Clarke is also set to be re-evaluated soon, but it is understandable that there is plenty of concern surrounding Zach Edey.
Edey has continued to have problems with the same ankle
Edey appeared in 66 regular season games as a rookie despite having recurring issues with his ankle, stemming from an ankle sprain suffered in Summer League. Edey ended up re-injuring the ankle during an offseason workout and had surgery. Edey ended up missing the first 13 games of the regular season but led the team to a 7-4 record before being shut down again.
It was a massive blow for the Grizzlies due to his elite screening ability, and he had taken a very significant defensive leap. It is not a coincidence that the Grizzlies have struggled significantly since Edey was shut down. Now, Edey will undergo another procedure on his left ankle, which has continued to bother him.
Should there be long-term concern?
It is always very scary when bigs end up suffering lower-body injuries. It is also very understandable as to why Grizzlies fans are worried about Edey. Edey has already proven himself to be one of the most impactful players on the team, and the Grizzlies need him healthy in the long term. The recent news is even tougher to accept due to the fact that Edey was injury-free in college but is having recurring issues with his ankle.
Edey's health in the coming seasons will end up being worth monitoring, as he is supposed to be one of the players for the Grizzlies to build around. However, this newer procedure sounds like it should have him available for training camp. It will be important to ensure that Edey's health is in the best spot possible for his third season, even at the expense of this season.
There will always be increased risk in taking 7-footers, but Edey has made a significant enough impact that he cannot be written off yet. The Grizzlies will very likely draft or sign another center in order to be better prepared for non-Edey minutes regardless of his health. However, this is hopefully one setback for the Grizzlies, and Edey can go back to having a strong two-way impact next season.