Bryce McGowens was cleared on the New Orleans injury report Tuesday night, moving off the Day-To-Day tag he had carried. He is positioned to be available when the Pelicans open the season Thursday at Miami.
What happened
The Pelicans' injury report listed Bryce McGowens as Cleared as of Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 11:20 PM ET, removing the Day-To-Day tag he had carried into the week. No injury detail or report comment came with the update. The report had shown him Day-To-Day as far back as Sunday, Sept. 6, when the designation was tied to a right toe and leg issue, and he remained Day-To-Day through Tuesday before the clearance. No expected-return timeline was ever announced for him.
What it means for the Pelicans
New Orleans opens its 2026-27 season Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:30 PM ET at Miami, with the Pelicans sitting at 0-0 since the season has not started. Last season McGowens averaged 8.1 points, 2.1 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 21.0 minutes across 42 games, a backcourt role that overlaps with Jeremiah Fears (25.8 minutes, 14.3 points) and lead guard Dejounte Murray (27.8 minutes, 16.7 points) in the Pelicans' rotation. With no games played yet this season, there is no with-or-without-him record to cite for New Orleans.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether McGowens' Cleared status holds through Thursday's opener at Miami. No expected-return date has been announced, since he is no longer listed as out or day-to-day. The Pelicans' schedule beyond the Heat game was not detailed in this report.
Is Bryce McGowens playing at Heat?
He was cleared on the Pelicans' injury report as of Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 11:20 PM ET, after previously being listed Day-To-Day, which positions him to be available for Thursday's game at Miami.
When will McGowens be back?
He is not listed as out. His status moved from Day-To-Day to Cleared on Tuesday, Oct. 6, and no expected-return date was announced because none was needed.