Update on T.J. Warren's foot: Out of a boot after another positive scan
Update on T.J. Warren's foot: Out of a boot after another positive scan
Rick Carlisle shared the latest update after the Pacers' 111-98 win over the Knicks Wednesday night.
Pacers forward T.J. Warren has replaced a walking boot with a sneaker on his left foot to match his outfit. That was the first positive sign in the last 24 hours.
He has been getting regularly scans on his left foot every three weeks since the Pacers announced two months ago that he was out indefinitely after his left foot was not healing from surgery at the pace they had expected. Since then, he was in a walking boot and unable to do much of anything on the court.
We were due for an update and head coach Rick Carlisle followed through on providing it Wednesday after the Pacers defeated the Knicks by 13 points.
The third straight test came back positive, meaning daily treatment and rest has been productive. He loves basketball and hates missing time, but that’s what is required following surgery on a stress fracture to his left foot back on Jan. 5.
“He is in sneakers now, he’s working out with shoes on,” Carlisle said. “He did some light shooting today with shoes on instead of a boot and so obviously it’s great news for us.
“There’s no timetable or anything. This is going to be weeks, not days. Weeks, but hopefully not months, so we’ll see.”
Warren is around the team daily and now can increase his workload with the hope that the progression continues.
“It’s a challenging bone,” team president Kevin Pritchard said at media day. “There’s some blood supply issues.”
The Pacers (3-6) had four of their five starters available Wednesday for the first time this season. Malcolm Brogdon returned from an injury and Caris LeVert played a season-high 31 minutes as he still works himself into game shape after being limited for the first month. Rookie Chris Duarte started — along with Brogdon, LeVert, Domantas Sabonis and Myles Turner.
Warren appeared in just four games last season after averaging a career-high 19.8 points per game during the 2019-20 season.
