Noa Essengue has been cleared, according to the official injury report Monday evening, after he was listed as day-to-day with a head issue. The 19-year-old forward is off the report before the Bulls face the Knicks on Wednesday.
What happened
Noa Essengue was cleared on the official injury report Monday, Oct. 26, at 5:49 PM ET. The 19-year-old forward had been listed as day-to-day. The report gave no detail and no comment with the change. The clearance ends a short stretch on the report with a head issue. He first appeared as day-to-day on Saturday, Oct. 24, and was moved to out later that day. On Sunday, Oct. 25, he went back to day-to-day. No further detail on the head issue has been announced.
What it means for the Bulls
Chicago faces the Knicks on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8:00 PM ET. The Bulls are 1-3, the 11th seed, and have lost two straight. Essengue has played three games, averaging 14.3 minutes, 1.7 points, 2.7 rebounds and 0.3 assists. Chicago is 1-2 with him and 0-1 without him. Without him, Caleb Wilson averaged 34.0 minutes and 21.0 points, and Norman Powell averaged 27.8 minutes and 19.5 points. Matas Buzelis played 24.9 minutes, Jalen Smith 22.0 and Leonard Miller 21.2. Tre Jones and Isaac Okoro each played 17.6 minutes.
What to watch
The next injury report before Wednesday's game against the Knicks is the next check. Essengue is cleared, but whether he plays and how many minutes he gets has not been announced. Two other Bulls remain on the report. Patrick Williams is day-to-day with a right groin issue. Nic Claxton is out with a hamstring issue. Their status could shape how much frontcourt work is available for Essengue against New York.
Is Noa Essengue playing vs Knicks on Wednesday?
He was cleared on the official injury report Monday, Oct. 26. Whether he plays against the Knicks on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 8:00 PM ET has not been announced.
When will Noa Essengue be back?
He has been cleared after a head issue that kept him on the injury report since Oct. 24. No date for his return to game action has been announced. The Bulls' next game is Wednesday against the Knicks.