Orlando Magic feel relief over Jalen Suggs’ prognosis

Throughout Friday night, everyone could only think of the worst.

This Orlando Magic franchise has been snake bit with injuries the last two seasons and every little knick is seen in the worst circumstances. Everyone fears the worst and the prolonged absences that are likely to follow, slowing both the growth of this team and individual players.

So when Jalen Suggs went down in the first quarter of Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, clutching his knee after hyperextending it moving in to set a screen, everyone thought the worst. How could they not?

There was that unfamiliar feeling of relief that came with the news Saturday and the official diagnosis. And that familiar need for patience as a recovery process begins.

Jalen Suggs will be out for a while with a knee sprain and bone bruise. But that turned out to be good news for the Orlando Magic as relief permeated the franchise.

The Magic announced Saturday that Suggs would be out with a left knee capsule sprain and a bone bruise. His return would be dependent on how he responds to treatment. But the initial prognosis, at least to a doctor who spoke to Khobi Price of the Orlando Sentinel is 4-6 weeks.

That is at least some relief if it means waiting a bit longer.

"“Those things can either go one of two ways,” Suggs said after the Magic’s practice Sunday. “They are either the worst or they are things that are really manageable. Thankfully, this is one of those really manageable things. Just coming in here, continuing to work with the staff, do everything I can to keep strengthening the rest of my body, keep strengthening my leg, recovering in every way possible so that when it is go time here pretty soon, I’m ready to go.”"

Suggs dealt with his share of injuries last year, appearing in only 48 games. A broken bone in his hand in November hurt him early in the season. He returned and then dealt with a series of ankle injuries that derailed the end of his season.

That was at least partly why Suggs struggled so much his rookie year, averaging 11.8 points per game on a 40.0-percent effective field goal percentage.

Suggs did not get the jumpstart to his second season everyone hoped for either. He had ankle surgery right after the season ended and was unable to play in Summer League. On top of that Suggs said he spent his offseason deconstructing his shot and trying to rebuild his base so he can improve his shooting numbers.

The results in the preseason to this point have been mixed. But there is a lot new out there on the floor for everyone. Every player to this point has had good and bad moments as the Magic begin to piece things together.

Obviously, that would be better with Suggs on the floor.

Instead, Suggs has to go back to the rehab ringer. Something he has experience with from last year where he did make some gains even if his restart came in fits and starts.

"“Our level of communication was great,” coach Jamahl Mosley said after practice Sunday. “He understood what it was and the work he is going to have to do. But it is also a pause to evaluate some of the things going on, continue to stay encouraged, continue to be here with his teammates and the level of communication he has with them. It’s going to continue to be a great piece of what they do.”"

Even the usually tight-lipped Mosley expressed relief that Suggs’ injury was not as bad as it initially seemed. That relief certainly permeated the whole organization.

Now comes the hard part and the waiting. This might have been good news for the Magic. Suggs avoided a serious injury. He will be back at some point and quite possibly soon depending on how quickly he can recover.

But this is still lost time. Time that Suggs has lost a lot of so far.

Unfortunately, that makes Suggs a veteran of rehab and going through the process. He knows how to keep himself mentally engaged and learning from the sideline while doing his work to rehab and keep his skills up.

It is frustrating, but it is now the path ahead of him.

"“It’s scary, frustrating,” Suggs said after practice Sunday. “I’ve dealt with enough of these. I’ve felt like I’ve spent too much time in rehab. More than I’ve needed to. But it’s part of life. Part of this game. These things happen. Just taking it a day at a time. I’m not worried about it. One good thing is going through it last year, I’m not getting down on it. I know what I need to do to get back and to heal and get ready to go.”"

The feeling of relief the Magic feel from this is certainly warranted. They avoided the worst.

But it is still an injury. And there is still the waiting game and hope for a full and speedy recovery. That is all anyone can do.