The 76ers lifted Joel Embiid's Day-To-Day tag on Friday, clearing him for tonight's season opener against the Celtics. Philadelphia opens 2026-27 with its starting center available for the 7:00 p.m. ET tip on NBA TV.
What happened
Philadelphia's injury report for Friday, Oct. 16, filed at 5:44 p.m. ET, lists Joel Embiid as cleared, removing the Day-To-Day tag he had carried. The report gives no detail for the move and no additional comment. Embiid had been in and out of the report in the days before the opener: Day-To-Day for rest on Oct. 5, cleared on Oct. 8, then back to Day-To-Day for rest on Oct. 10. Friday's clearance resolves that stretch with no expected-return date listed, since he is already set to play.
What it means for the 76ers
The 76ers open their season at home against the Celtics on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET on NBA TV with Embiid available. Last season he averaged 26.9 points, 7.7 rebounds and 3.9 assists in 31.6 minutes across 38 games, and a healthy opening night gives Philadelphia its full frontcourt scoring and rebounding option from the start. Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Kelly Oubre Jr., VJ Edgecombe, Quentin Grimes, Dominick Barlow, Andre Drummond and Adem Bona round out the rotation around him. The 76ers have not played a game yet this season, so there is no record to report with or without Embiid.
What to watch
The next injury report will show whether Embiid's recent pattern of Day-To-Day rest tags continues once games begin. No expected return timeline applies since he is cleared for tonight. Philadelphia's report also lists Ariel Hukporti out with a right Achilles issue, and Day-To-Day tags for VJ Edgecombe, Dominick Barlow, Anfernee Simons, Adem Bona, Tacko Fall and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, all worth tracking on the next report.
Is Joel Embiid playing vs Celtics?
Yes. The 76ers cleared Embiid on Friday's injury report, lifting his Day-To-Day tag ahead of the 7:00 p.m. ET tip on NBA TV.
When will Joel Embiid be back?
He is already back. Embiid is cleared, with no Day-To-Day tag, for Philadelphia's season opener against the Celtics on Friday, Oct. 16.