Cleveland Cavs All-Star Evan Mobley underwent an MRI on his left calf strain suffered in Friday’s 130-126 win against the Washington Wizards, and will miss extended time. Mobley’s difficult 2025-26 regular season just got worse for him and the Cavs.
Mobley suffered a Grade 1 strain in his left calf, according to a press release by the Cavs.
“Evan Mobley injured his left calf during Friday night’s game at Washington after postgame evaluation of tightness in that area,” the Cavs said via a press release. “An MRI (Saturday) at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health revealed a Grade 1 strain. Mobley will begin treatment and is expected to miss approximately 2-4 weeks.”
Mobley finished with 23 points and 13 rebounds in Friday’s win against the Wizards. It was Mobley’s fourth consecutive double-double, as he’s been turning things around in December with his second 23-point double-double.
Evan Mobley, Cavs slapped with harsh reality by NBA insider
Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Cavs All-Star Evan Mobley heard coach Kenny Atkinson call out his team for underwhelming returns throughout the first two months of the regular season. While the Cavs are 15-11, which is the seventh-best record in the Eastern Conference, there have been underlying concerns in regards to roster depth, due to injuries to starters Darius Garland and Max Struss, according to ESPN’s Tim Bomtemps.
“In essentially replacing 2025 Sixth Man finalist Ty Jerome with Lonzo Ball, the Cavaliers knew they were risking a lower regular-season ceiling in favor of a higher one in the playoffs. That’s exactly what league insiders are seeing through the first month of 2025-26. The departure of Jerome and the absence of Darius Garland, who has played just 73 minutes while dealing with a big toe injury, has dropped last season’s top-ranked offense to outside the top 10,” Bontemps reported.
Ball isn’t having the season the Cavs were hoping for, according to a Western Conference scout.
“They’re not great right now, but they’re down at least two starters,” a West scout said, referring to Garland, Max Strus, and Sam Merrill all missing time. “Lonzo hasn’t been great.
“Are they better [than last year]? Probably not. They’ve always needed Evan [Mobley] to get even better, and he’s not there yet.”
The Cavs will host the Hornets on Sunday.