Bulls forward Tobe Awaka was upgraded from day-to-day to cleared on Wednesday evening's injury report. That makes him available for Chicago's season opener at Toronto at 7:30 PM ET.
What happened
Tobe Awaka has been cleared. The official injury report moved the 22-year-old forward from day-to-day to cleared at 6:18 PM ET on Wednesday, Oct. 21. That came a little more than an hour before tip-off in Toronto. The report gave no detail on the change and included no comment. Awaka had been day-to-day since Tuesday, Oct. 13, with a knee issue. He was still day-to-day earlier on Wednesday, before the evening update. Nothing more about the injury has been announced.
What it means for the Bulls
Chicago opens the 2026-27 season at Toronto on Wednesday at 7:30 PM ET. The Bulls are 0-0, so there is no record yet with or without Awaka, and he has no season line to measure. The clearance comes with three teammates out: Nic Claxton (hamstring), Dailyn Swain (illness) and Jordan Hawkins (illness). In games without Awaka, the minutes have gone to Josh Giddey (32.1 per game, 17.0 points), Nikola Vucevic (30.8, 16.9), Matas Buzelis (29.2, 16.3) and Coby White (29.1, 18.6). Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, Tre Jones and Isaac Okoro each played between 26.9 and 28.9 minutes.
What to watch
No return date was announced, and with the clearance none is needed. The first thing to watch is whether Awaka plays at Toronto. His role and minutes have not been announced. The next injury report will show whether the knee issue comes back. It will also show whether Claxton, Swain and Hawkins stay out. Tip-off against the Raptors is 7:30 PM ET on Wednesday.
Is Tobe Awaka playing at the Raptors on Wednesday?
The official injury report listed him as cleared at 6:18 PM ET on Oct. 21, so he is available for the 7:30 PM ET game at Toronto. His minutes have not been announced.
When will Tobe Awaka be back?
He is already back. The injury report upgraded him from day-to-day to cleared on Oct. 21, after he had been day-to-day with a knee issue since Oct. 13.