The Raptors downgraded Nate Bittle from day-to-day to out on Tuesday afternoon with a right foot injury, ruling him out of Wednesday's season opener against the Bulls. His expected return is October 28, so Toronto opens the year without the 23-year-old center.
What happened
Toronto listed Nate Bittle as out on Tuesday's injury report, filed at 2:27 PM ET. The listing names a right foot injury. The report's comment reads: "Bittle (foot) is out for Wednesday's season opener against the Bulls." Bittle had been day-to-day with the same right foot issue since Saturday, after being cleared from an earlier day-to-day listing that same day. The foot first showed up on the report on October 3. Before that, he carried day-to-day listings for a right lower leg in September and a right knee in early September. The report gives an expected return date of October 28.
What it means for the Raptors
The Raptors open the 2026-27 season at home against the Bulls on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET, and they will do it without Bittle. Toronto is 0-0, and the season has not started, so there is no record with or without him yet. There is also no 2026-27 season line for Bittle to measure what the Raptors lose. At center, Jakob Poeltl has carried 25.0 minutes and 10.7 points in box scores with Bittle out, with Sandro Mamukelashvili at 21.9 minutes and 11.2 points and Collin Murray-Boyles at 21.9 minutes and 8.5 points behind him. Brandon Ingram, Scottie Barnes, RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley handle the bulk of the minutes on the perimeter.
What to watch
The next injury report ahead of the Bulls game will confirm Bittle's status, though the comment already rules him out. The report lists October 28 as his expected return, which would put him back around a week after the opener. Any games between Wednesday and that date are not addressed in the report, so his availability for those is not announced. Bittle is the only Raptor on the report right now.
Is Nate Bittle playing vs the Bulls on Wednesday?
No. The injury report lists him as out for Wednesday's season opener with a right foot injury.
When will Nate Bittle be back?
The injury report gives an expected return of October 28. No firm return game has been announced.