Knicks’ Robinson to have ankle surgery, will be re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks

Mitchell Robinson is undergoing ankle surgery this week and will be re-evaluated in 8-10 weeks, the New York Knicks announced Monday.

Robinson sustained an ankle injury during the first half of New York’s loss to the Boston Celtics last Friday. The Knicks big man briefly left the game to receive an X-ray, which came back negative, according to New York Post’s Mark W. Sanchez.Robinson returned to the contest but played only five minutes before sitting out the fourth quarter.

Robinson is averaging 6.2 points and 10.3 rebounds in 21 games for the Knicks this season.

New York hosts the Toronto Raptors on Monday night.

Penguins’ Guentzel out minimum 12 weeks after ankle surgery

Pittsburgh Penguins forward Jake Guentzel underwent successful right ankle surgery and will be re-evaluated in 12 weeks, the team announced Friday.

“As Jake continued to increase the intensity of his preparation for the upcoming season, it was apparent that his ankle injury was not resolving in a way that was satisfactory to he or the Penguins,” general manager Kyle Dubas said in a statement.

Guentzel will miss at least the first seven games of the season based on the 12-week timeline.

The 28-year-old tallied 36 goals and 73 points in 78 games last season. Guentzel has led the Penguins in goals in consecutive years and has reached the 40-goal mark twice in his career. He’s averaged over 20 minutes each of the past four seasons.

Guentzel’s $6-million cap hit will be eligible to begin the season on long-term injured reserve. The Penguins would have just under $2.8 million of cap space should Guentzel be placed on LTIR, according to CapFriendly.

Colts’ Taylor undergoes ankle surgery, will be ‘ready to go’ for 2023

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor underwent successful surgery to repair his injured ankle last Wednesday, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

“That thing had a bunch of junk in there from a bunch of years,” Taylor said. “Just finally had to clean it out and make sure I’m good to go. We finally had the time to get it right, make sure I’m 100% ready to rock. That’s all you can ask.

“(Surgery) was a no-brainer. Get that out of the way, so you can focus on maintaining your body and get ready for the season.”

Taylor sustained a high ankle sprain against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 15. The star runner missed the remainder of the season after the Colts placed him on injured reserve.

“The No. 1 thing is taking time to heal,” Taylor said. “The No. 2 thing is relaxing, just mentally, after the type of season we had. Get healthy, decompress mentally. I’ll be on my feet in no time.”

The 24-year-old will look to return to his 2021 All-Pro form when he ran for 1,811 yards and 18 scores. Taylor struggled to replicate that dominance this season, finishing with 861 rushing yards and four touchdowns in 11 games.

The Colts finished the 2022 campaign with a 4-12-1 record and own the fourth pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Taylor said he’s confident he’ll be healthy and prepared to play once the 2023 season arrives.

“I’ll be ready to go,” he said.

Kupp to miss 6-8 weeks, will need Rams resurgence to return

Los Angeles Rams star receiver Cooper Kupp is expected to miss six-to-eight weeks after undergoing surgery this past week for a high ankle sprain, league sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The Rams sit at 3-6, and with only eight games remaining, they reportedly will need to turn their season around for Kupp to have a shot at returning this year. The NFC West club is playing the New Orleans Saints on Sunday.

Timelines vary for recoveries from tightrope surgery, with some players recovering faster than the six-to-eight-week projection while others take longer to return to action.

Receivers Allen Robinson, Ben Skowronek, and Van Jefferson will lead the Rams’ passing attack in Kupp’s absence.

Kupp was named Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 after earning the receiving Triple Crown with NFL highs in catches (145), yards (1,947), and touchdowns (16).

Chargers’ Jackson to miss 2-4 weeks after ankle surgery

Los Angeles Chargers cornerback J.C. Jackson underwent ankle surgery and will miss approximately two-to-four weeks, the team announced Tuesday.

Jackson signed a five-year, $82.5-million contract with the Chargers this offseason.

The 26-year-old went undrafted in 2018 but managed to earn a roster spot with the New England Patriots, where he spent the first four seasons of his pro career.

Noted for his ability to snag interceptions, Jackson worked his way into New England’s defensive back rotation and tallied 25 picks. He racked up 58 tackles, 23 passes defended, and eight interceptions in 2021 to earn his first Pro Bowl nod.

Jackson was among the notable acquisitions on defense, which also include Khalil Mack and Kyle Van Noy. He is projected to start at cornerback alongside Asante Samuel Jr. Los Angeles’ depth chart at the position also features Michael Davis, Tevaughn Campbell, and Bryce Callahan.

Nets’ Harris to undergo season-ending ankle surgery

Brooklyn Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris will undergo season-ending ankle surgery, general manager Sean Marks said Thursday.

Harris was originally expected to miss four-to-eight weeks when he underwent a procedure in November. However, complications from that surgery kept him out of the lineup.

“Joe has done everything he possibly could up to this point to avoid having surgery, and (he) wanted to be back out with his teammates,” Marks said.

The 30-year-old Harris, who led the NBA in 3-point percentage last season, was expected to play a major role for the star-studded Nets this campaign. He made 46.6% of his 3-pointers on over six attempts per game across 14 contests in 2021-22.

In addition to Harris’ injury concerns, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have played in just 51 of a potential 126 combined games this season. Brooklyn also shipped off James Harden for Ben Simmons, who’s yet to play for the Nets.

The 32-31 Nets currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

Ravens lose All-Pro Ronnie Stanley for season due to ankle injury

Baltimore Ravens left tackle Ronnie Stanley will undergo his second straight year-ending ankle surgery.

“This is not what I wanted or expected when coming into the season,” Stanley announced Tuesday. “Throughout the last year, I did everything I could to be 100% healthy so I could be out there playing for our team and city. As a competitor, I have a mindset of sacrificing my body for my brothers and my team to reach our goals. At this point in time, my ankle isn’t where it should be.

“This is the best decision not only for my health but also for the team long term. I look forward to supporting my team from the sideline this season and coming back fully healthy in 2022.”

Stanley missed the second half of the last campaign with the same injury, which he suffered just days after signing a five-year deal reportedly worth $98.75 million. He returned for Week 1 but has sat out the last five contests.

Veteran Alejandro Villanueva shifted over to left tackle, and Patrick Mekari took over at right tackle.

Injuries have devasted the Ravens this season. Star cornerback Marcus Peters and running back Gus Edwards both suffered torn ACLs during practice days before the start of the campaign.

Baltimore also lost two other running backs, J.K. Dobbins and Justice Hill, to year-ending injuries. Meanwhile, first-round wide receiver Rashod Bateman missed the first five games before making his debut in Week 6.

Despite the losses, the Ravens have established themselves as one of the NFL’s best clubs through six weeks, winning five contests to top the AFC North.

Saints’ Thomas faces offseason ankle surgeries

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas needs surgeries to repair a torn deltoid ligament and other ligaments in his bothersome ankle, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Thomas battled through the season after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 1. He missed a slew of games after that and spent the final three weeks of the regular season on injured reserve while still dealing with the effects of the injury.

After leading the NFL with 149 catches and 1,725 yards last season, Thomas managed only 40 receptions and 438 yards over seven outings this year. He caught five passes for 73 yards and a touchdown in a victory over the Chicago Bears on Wild Card Weekend, but he failed to reel in any of his four targets in a divisional-round loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Thomas, 27, was a first-team All-Pro selection in 2018 and 2019 after topping the league in receptions both years.

Trail Blazers’ Collins out indefinitely after another ankle surgery

Portland Trail Blazers big man Zach Collins is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery Wednesday to repair a left medial malleolus stress fracture in his left ankle, the team announced.

The fourth-year player out of Gonzaga had yet to appear in a game this season, having previously undergone ankle surgery Sept. 1. Collins was originally expected to make his season debut by mid-January.

He missed all but 11 games of the 2019-20 regular season following a November 2019 surgery to repair his left labrum after he dislocated his shoulder.

Collins returned to the Trail Blazers’ lineup for the restart in Orlando and averaged 6.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 25.4 minutes per game over eight appearances. He did not play in Portland’s first-round series loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Colts’ Castonzo set to undergo season-ending ankle surgery

Indianapolis Colts head coach Frank Reich has announced left tackle Anthony Castonzo will have season-ending ankle surgery, according to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo.

Castonzo’s absence will be a huge blow to a Colts squad fighting for a spot in the postseason.

Indianapolis is currently on the outside of the AFC playoff picture, needing a win over the Jacksonville Jaguars and additional help in Week 17 to secure a postseason appearance.

The veteran left tackle has been limited to just 12 games this season after battling both ankle and knee ailments throughout the year. Castonzo was one of a few linemen who missed last Sunday’s contest against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The thin offensive unit gave up five sacks during the bout as a result.

Castonzo has been a mainstay in Indianapolis’ offense for much of the last decade, starting 144 games since 2011.

The Colts are reportedly expected to sign tackle Jared Veldheer to compensate for Castonzo’s injury, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.