Jalen Johnson remains day-to-day on Atlanta's Friday, Oct. 16 injury report, and Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports the Hawks will hold him out of Monday's preseason game against the Thunder for rest. Johnson is not listed out of Friday night's preseason game at Dallas, where Atlanta will again lean on its bench rotation if he is unavailable.
What happened
Jalen Johnson is listed day-to-day on the Friday, Oct. 16 injury report, unchanged from his previous designation, with no body part attached to the listing. It is part of a pattern: Atlanta has moved him on and off the day-to-day list all week, clearing him Oct. 10 and again Oct. 16 before re-listing him both times. Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network reports Johnson, dealing with rest, will not play in Monday's preseason game against the Thunder. No expected return date has been announced.
What it means for the Hawks
Atlanta's next game is Friday night at Dallas, and the preseason schedule continues Monday against the Thunder, a game Rowland reports Johnson will miss for rest. Last season he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists over 35.2 minutes across 72 games, a two-way, rebound-and-playmaking role the Hawks cannot simply replace. Without him on the floor, Nickeil Alexander-Walker (33.4 minutes, 20.8 points), Dyson Daniels (33.2 minutes, 11.9 points) and Onyeka Okongwu (31.0 minutes, 15.2 points) have taken on the largest share of his minutes. The Hawks are 0-0 with the 2026-27 season not yet underway, so there is no record with or without Johnson to cite yet.
What to watch
The Hawks have not announced a target return date for Johnson, and his status has swung between day-to-day and cleared several times this week, including clearances on Oct. 10 and Oct. 16. Monday's preseason game against the Thunder is the only game Rowland has specifically ruled him out of. Expect another injury report update before then, with his status for Friday's game at Dallas still to be confirmed.
Is Jalen Johnson playing at the Mavericks?
He is listed day-to-day for Friday's preseason game at Dallas. The game he has been specifically ruled out of is Monday's preseason matchup against the Thunder, which he will miss for rest, per Brad Rowland of the Locked On Podcast Network.
When will Jalen Johnson be back?
A return date has not been announced. He has moved on and off the day-to-day list several times this month, and his next status update is expected before Monday's game against the Thunder.