Nae'Qwan Tomlin will not play in Thursday's preseason game against the Celtics because of a back injury, earning a new day-to-day tag on Cleveland's injury report. The Cavaliers will be without the forward for the matchup, with the regular rotation covering his minutes.
What happened
Cleveland listed Nae'Qwan Tomlin as day-to-day on the injury report issued Thursday, Oct. 8 at 7:12 p.m. ET, with a back and torso issue. No previous status for Tomlin had been announced before this report. Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio reported that Tomlin, dealing with the back injury, will not play in Thursday's preseason game against Boston. The report lists his expected return as Oct. 11.
What it means for the Cavaliers
Tomlin will miss Thursday's preseason matchup with the Celtics. Last season he averaged 15.7 minutes, 5.8 points, 2.9 rebounds and 0.8 assists over 64 games for Cleveland. Without him, the Cavaliers lean on their regular rotation: James Harden (33.8 minutes, 20.5 points), Donovan Mitchell (33.5 minutes, 27.9 points), Evan Mobley (31.9 minutes, 18.2 points), Darius Garland (30.5 minutes, 18.0 points), Jarrett Allen (27.1 minutes, 15.4 points), Jaylon Tyson (26.9 minutes, 13.2 points), Sam Merrill (26.5 minutes, 12.8 points) and De'Andre Hunter (26.2 minutes, 14.0 points). Cleveland is 0-0, with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, so there is no record with or without him to measure.
What to watch
Cleveland's next injury report will show whether the back and torso issue has cleared. The team's expected return for Tomlin is Oct. 11, which would put him back in the mix for the next preseason game. The Cavaliers continue their preseason slate before the 2026-27 regular season opens, and any change in his status will appear on the next report.
Is Nae'Qwan Tomlin playing vs Celtics?
No. Tomlin is day-to-day with a back injury and will not play in Thursday's preseason game against the Celtics, according to Serena Winters of FanDuel Sports Network Ohio.
When will Nae'Qwan Tomlin be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 11.