Zion Williamson will remain sidelined for at least another four weeks.
The Pelicans announced on Thursday that their franchise player received a “biologic injection into the fracture site to stimulate bone healing in his right foot.”
The team said Williamson, 21, will undergo further imaging tests in four to six weeks when he is reevaluated.
New Orleans also stated that Williamson will be limited to low-impact, partial weight-bearing activities for an extended period.
The latest news came five days after the Pelicans said in a statement that Williamson suffered a small setback in his rehab and was experiencing soreness in his right foot.
“I don’t necessarily want to speak for him but I have spoken to him, but it’s just been frustrating for everyone,” Pelicans coach Willie Green told reporters on Thursday.
The Duke product had surgery over the summer to repair a fracture in the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. But his prolonged recovery has raised questions about the seriousness of the injury — especially since the Pelicans seemed optimistic about the healing of the bone during media day in October.
The Pelicans hope to reevaluate Zion Williamson in four to six weeks. APWilliamson’s weight has also been at the forefront of concerns about the Jordan brand athlete.
Last week, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reported that Williamson currently weighs 330 pounds. At the same time, Williamson was already a trending Twitter topic for photos that showed him appearing bulkier than usual.
Williamson also has a history of injuries, including a torn right meniscus and a right knee injury he suffered while playing at Duke in February 2019.
The Pelicans selected Williamson with the No. 1 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, and he played just 24 games in his rookie season.
Williamson has missed all 30 games this season for the Pelicans (9-21), who host the reigning champion Bucks (19-11) on Friday.
