AJ Dybantsa is day-to-day with an ankle injury, according to the Wizards' injury report, after leaving Friday's preseason game against the Pelicans in the second quarter. Washington has no previous status to compare, and the rookie forward's practice and game availability now hinge on how the ankle responds.
What happened
The Wizards listed Dybantsa as day-to-day at 9:38 p.m. ET Friday, tagging the injury as an ankle and leg issue. He had no previous status on the report. Josh Robbins of The Athletic reported that Dybantsa exited to the locker room in the second quarter of Friday's preseason game against the Pelicans because of an apparent ankle injury. Washington has not issued further comment beyond the day-to-day tag, and no additional detail on severity has been reported.
What it means for the Wizards
Friday's game, at the Pelicans, is the next matchup on Washington's schedule, and the Wizards enter the 2026-27 season 0-0 with no regular-season games played, so there is no record split with or without Dybantsa yet. As a 19-year-old rookie, he does not have a season line to point to. If he sits, the frontcourt rotation that logged minutes without him includes Alex Sarr, Bilal Coulibaly, Julian Reese and Kyshawn George, with CJ McCollum, Bub Carrington, Leaky Black and Alondes Williams also in the mix. Washington's injury report already lists Tristan Vukcevic and Jamir Watkins as out, and Khris Middleton as day-to-day, thinning the frontcourt further.
What to watch
The Wizards have not announced an expected return date, and Dybantsa's next listing on the injury report will show whether the ankle has improved from day-to-day. Washington continues its preseason schedule against the Pelicans, and the team's broader injury report — Vukcevic and Watkins out, Middleton day-to-day — will also factor into coming lineups.
Is AJ Dybantsa playing vs. Pelicans?
He is day-to-day with an ankle injury after exiting Friday's game against the Pelicans in the second quarter. His official report status has not been updated beyond day-to-day.
When will AJ Dybantsa be back?
The Wizards have not announced an expected return date. His status is day-to-day with an ankle and leg injury.