Dylan Cardwell Out Into November With Left Calf Strain
Dylan Cardwell will not be in Sacramento's lineup when the regular season tips off. The Kings center is out with a left calf strain and has an estimated return date of Nov. 2, putting him on track to miss several games to start 2026-27.
By the Kings Nightly Desk · updated 4 d ago01The story of the nightThe Injury ReportCardwell's status has slid over the past week.
Cardwell's status has slid over the past week. On Oct. 10 he was day-to-day with a rest issue. By Oct. 12 that had turned into a day-to-day left calf and leg problem, and on Oct. 13 the Kings moved him to out with the same left calf and leg issue, with an estimated return date of Nov. 2. Frankie Cartoscelli of KHTK Sactown Sports 1140 reports Cardwell is expected to miss at least the first five or six games of the regular season, and says a longer absence is possible. That timeline lines up with the preseason box score: he didn't play at all in Sacramento's Oct. 16 game against San Antonio.
02What He Brought Last SeasonIn his first NBA season, 2025-26, Cardwell appeared in 44 games for Sacramento and averaged 20.6 minutes.
In his first NBA season, 2025-26, Cardwell appeared in 44 games for Sacramento and averaged 20.6 minutes. He put up 5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 0.7 steals and 1.5 blocks, with 0.9 turnovers a night. His shooting was efficient for a center: 58.7% from the field, 50.0% on threes on a small sample, and 51.0% from the line, for a true shooting mark of 59.1%. His usage rate sat at 10.8%, the profile of a backup big who finishes plays and cleans the glass rather than creating offense for himself. His plus-minus for the season was -1.5.
03Preseason SnapshotBefore the calf injury shut him down, Cardwell saw preseason action for Sacramento.
Before the calf injury shut him down, Cardwell saw preseason action for Sacramento. On Oct. 5 against the Lakers, he played 28.8 minutes and put up 9 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists in a loss. Three days later, also against the Lakers, he logged 11.5 minutes with 7 rebounds and 2 assists without scoring. By Oct. 16, against San Antonio, he didn't see the floor at all, a sign the calf had already become an issue. Those numbers track with the rebounding, low-usage profile he showed last season as a frontcourt reserve.
04BackgroundCardwell is a 24-year-old center out of Auburn, listed at 6-10 and 255 pounds, wearing No.
Cardwell is a 24-year-old center out of Auburn, listed at 6-10 and 255 pounds, wearing No. 32 for Sacramento. He's heading into his second NBA season after spending his rookie year with the Kings. His game last season leaned on finishing around the rim at a high percentage and rebounding at a solid rate for his minutes, with low turnover numbers. He isn't a high-usage player, and his role has been built around what he does without needing the ball in his hands: rebounding, rim protection at 1.5 blocks a game, and efficient finishing.
05Rumor MillThe calf strain made local headlines.
The calf strain made local headlines. On Oct. 13, a report ran with the headline that the injury would shelve Cardwell for at least two weeks. That tracks with the team's own estimated return date of Nov. 2 and with Cartoscelli's reporting that the absence could stretch beyond the minimum five or six games. Nothing beyond the injury timeline has surfaced about Cardwell's standing with the Kings.
06What's NextWith an estimated return date of Nov.
With an estimated return date of Nov. 2, Cardwell is set to miss Sacramento's season opener and a chunk of the early schedule. The Kings will lean on other frontcourt options while he recovers from the left calf strain. Once healthy, he projects to slot back into the same low-usage, efficient role he had last season: a rebounder and rim protector who doesn't need the ball to contribute. How fast he's worked back into the rotation will depend on how the calf responds once he's cleared to play.
