Skip to main content
All Grizzlies

Isaiah Stewart's Ankle Trouble Follows Him to Memphis

Seven minutes and 18 seconds. That's all it took for something to go wrong in the Grizzlies' preseason opener.
Sam Trigg|
Oct 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Isaiah Stewart (28) warms up before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
Oct 5, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Memphis Grizzlies center Isaiah Stewart (28) warms up before a game against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

In this story:

Memphis Grizzlies

Seven minutes and 18 seconds.

That is how long it took into the Grizzlies' 132-123 preseason win over Atlanta on Monday before the injuries started up again.

Isaiah Stewart checked in with 6:49 left in the first quarter, and checked out at 4:42, only two minutes and seven seconds into his Memphis debut.

This is a team that's dealt with the injury bug for years now.

Last season alone, the Grizzlies lost 564 man-games to injury and illness, an NBA record.

So far through this preseason, the trend hasn't changed.

Edey missed the opener, and Stewart will miss at least Wednesday's game as well.

Edey didn't play at all Monday, as he's still working his way back after undergoing a second-ankle surgery and a left elbow procedure, both in March, following an injury-shortened 2025-26 season that limited him to just 11 games.

With him out, Quinten Post started at center, and Stewart, in his Grizzlies debut, came off the bench.

Memphis trailed 11-20 when Stewart checked in, and his impact was immediately felt.

By the time he checked out less than two minutes later with his injury, Memphis had cut the deficit to 19-24.

He rose to contest a shot and came down on Atlanta forward Jalen Johnson's right leg.

His leg buckled beneath him as he hit the hardwood, and he struggled to get back up.

At his introductory media day, Stewart had said, "You gotta have heart, and you gotta be okay with putting your body on the line."

Nobody wanted to see that play out two minutes into his debut though.

Stewart was able to limp off the court on his own, before heading to the locker room.

He finished the game with one rebound during his brief appearance.

Iisalo spoke to reporters at practice Tuesday, and it was announced Stewart would not play at home against the Magic Wednesday evening.

"He is still being evaluated," Iisalo said. "He obviously tweaked that ankle, didn't practice today, is not going to play tomorrow. But still under further evaluation."

For a fanbase that has gotten used to seeing its players on the sidelines in street clothes over the past few seasons, Grizzlies fans have a bigger reason to be uneasy about this particular injury.

Because this is not new territory for Stewart, as his ankle has been a recurring problem, going back to 2021.

He dealt with a left ankle sprain in November 2025.

Before that, a left ankle sprain in January 2024 cost him eight games, a stretch that came shortly before his suspension following an altercation with Suns center Drew Eubanks, which video of has recently released.

Now, less than a year after his most recent ankle injury, Stewart is dealing with another one on the same side.

Memphis has three more preseason games left to play (including tonight against the Magic), and hopefully they can make it through them relatively unscathed.

But when the regular season starts, will Memphis be able to count long-term on its No. 1 and No. 2 options at center?

For now, Grizzlies fans are left waiting on updates on Edey's status and Stewart's ankle, while hoping that the injury that ended his night at State Farm Arena does not delay the start of the new revamped "grit and grind" era in Memphis he hopes to bring.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Loading recommendations... Please wait while we load personalized content recommendations

Published
Sam Trigg
SAM TRIGG

Sam Trigg is a Memphis native and sports journalist who recently graduated from the University of Memphis with a degree in journalism and communications. In addition to covering University of Memphis athletics for On3, he worked for the Memphis Hound Dogs during the team’s inaugural season while also covering the team for The Daily Helmsman.

Home/News