Fred VanVleet is day-to-day on the Rockets' Sunday, Oct. 11 injury report, listed with a rest-related issue and no previous status attached. The report sets his expected return for Oct. 15, leaving his status open heading into Sunday's preseason game against the Mavericks.
What happened
VanVleet showed up on the Rockets' injury report as day-to-day with a rest-related issue, filed Sunday, Oct. 11 at 6:15 a.m. ET under the designation Rest · Other. The report carries no previous status for him, making this a fresh listing rather than an update to an existing one. The report's comment points back to Friday's preseason game, when VanVleet finished with 17 points on 5-for-12 shooting, 5-for-12 from three, seven assists, two rebounds and two steals in 24 minutes during a 135-117 win over Dallas. The report lists an expected return of Oct. 15.
What it means for the Rockets
Houston faces the Mavericks again Sunday, Oct. 11 at 6:00 a.m. ET on NBA TV, a rematch of Friday's preseason meeting. The 2026-27 regular season has not started, so VanVleet has no season averages yet and the Rockets have no regular-season record to cite with or without him. In games without him this preseason, the minutes and scoring load has gone to the rest of the rotation: Amen Thompson at 37.4 minutes and 18.3 points, Kevin Durant at 36.4 minutes and 26.0 points, Jabari Smith Jr. at 35.1 minutes and 15.8 points, and Alperen Sengun at 33.3 minutes and 20.4 points, with Reed Sheppard, Tari Eason, Steven Adams and Josh Okogie also seeing time.
What to watch
The Rockets will update VanVleet's status on the next injury report. The current report lists an expected return of Oct. 15. Houston is also carrying day-to-day designations for Alperen Sengun and Steven Adams, both listed as Rest · Other, plus a not-injury-related listing for Kevin Durant, as the preseason schedule continues.
Is Fred VanVleet playing vs the Mavericks?
He is listed as day-to-day with a rest issue on the Sunday, Oct. 11 injury report, with no previous status attached and no further game-status announcement beyond that designation.
When will Fred VanVleet be back?
The injury report lists an expected return of Oct. 15.