Jalen Johnson was cleared on Friday's injury report, lifting him off day-to-day status hours before Atlanta's season opener. The forward is available for the Hawks' 8 p.m. ET tip-off at Dallas.
What happened
The Hawks listed Jalen Johnson as cleared on the Friday, Oct. 16 injury report, upgrading him from day-to-day. The forward had bounced on and off the report in the days leading up to Atlanta's opener: day-to-day for rest on Oct. 8, cleared on Oct. 10, day-to-day again for rest on Oct. 12, and day-to-day once more on Friday before the final clearance. No injury detail or expected-return language accompanied any of those listings, and no comment was added to the report. The clearance came less than an hour before Atlanta's 8 p.m. ET tip-off at Dallas.
What it means for the Hawks
Johnson is set to play in Atlanta's season opener at Dallas on Friday at 8 p.m. ET. Last season he averaged 22.5 points, 10.3 rebounds and 7.9 assists over 35.2 minutes across 72 games, the kind of all-around production the Hawks cannot simply replace with depth. With no 2026-27 games played yet, Atlanta has no record to point to with or without him on the floor. His clearance means the rotation that carried last season's scoring load alongside him - Trae Young, Dyson Daniels, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Onyeka Okongwu, CJ McCollum, Kristaps Porzingis and Zaccharie Risacher - opens the opener with him back in the mix rather than covering for his minutes.
What to watch
Johnson carries no expected-return timeline because he is no longer on the injury report. Atlanta's next report will cover its games following the Dallas opener. Two other Hawks remain listed: Henri Veesaar is out with a right knee issue, and Mouhamed Gueye is day-to-day with a left foot issue. Any change in Johnson's status would show up on the team's next official report.
Is Jalen Johnson playing at Mavericks?
Yes. Johnson was cleared on the Friday, Oct. 16 injury report, hours before Atlanta's 8 p.m. ET season opener at Dallas.
When will Jalen Johnson be back?
He is already available. Johnson was cleared from day-to-day status on the Oct. 16 report, and no new absence has been announced.