Morez Johnson Jr. remains day-to-day after Wednesday's injury report specified a lower leg issue, replacing the undisclosed designation from two days earlier. Head coach Dusty May says the rookie forward is working his way back and nearing a return to full practice.
What happened
Morez Johnson Jr. remains day-to-day, according to the injury report filed Wednesday, Sept. 30 at 9:51 PM ET. His issue is now listed as a lower leg injury, after a Monday, Sept. 28 entry described it only as undisclosed. Head coach Dusty May said Monday that Johnson has been limited during training camp but is working his way back and getting close to practicing in full, Grant Afseth of DallasHoopsJournal.com reports.
What it means for the Mavericks
Dallas opens its season against the Rockets on Friday, Oct. 9, the same date Johnson is expected to return. The rookie forward has no regular-season NBA minutes on record, and the Mavericks are 0-0 with the 2026-27 season still ahead. If he is unavailable, the frontcourt rotation that has played without him features Cooper Flagg at 33.5 minutes and 21.0 points, Anthony Davis at 31.3 minutes and 20.4 points, P.J. Washington at 31.0 minutes and 14.2 points, and Naji Marshall at 29.5 minutes and 15.2 points, with Daniel Gafford also seeing time at 21.7 minutes and 9.5 points.
What to watch
Dallas will issue another injury report before the opener. Johnson is expected back by Friday, Oct. 9, when the Mavericks host the Rockets. Dereck Lively II, Santi Aldama and Kyrie Irving also appear as day-to-day on the team's latest report, so the frontcourt and backcourt depth are worth tracking as that date approaches.
Is Morez Johnson Jr. playing vs Rockets?
He is day-to-day with a lower leg issue and is expected back by Friday, Oct. 9, when Dallas hosts the Rockets, but his status for that game has not been confirmed.
When will Morez Johnson Jr. be back?
His expected return is listed as Oct. 9, 2026, which lines up with Dallas' season opener against the Rockets. No further timeline has been announced.