Injury

Anthony Edwards Injury Update: Timberwolves Star Has Knee Surgery, Expected to Miss Up to Two Months

Edwards had successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday at Mayo Clinic. Minnesota expects a full recovery but hasn't set a return date.

By Davis Vance • Published October 29, 2026 • Updated October 31, 2026 • 5 min read

Anthony Edwards is out after surgery. The Timberwolves star had an arthroscopic debridement on his right knee on Thursday, October 29, performed by Dr. Craig Bennett at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, according to the Timberwolves' official injury update. Minnesota expects him to make a full recovery but hasn't put a date on his return. Sources told ESPN's Shams Charania he could be sidelined for up to two months. Here's what we know about the Anthony Edwards injury so far, from how it started to when he could be back.

LATEST UPDATE · OCT. 29, 2026

Surgery: Completed Thursday, Oct. 29, by Dr. Craig Bennett at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. (official team release)
Procedure: Right knee arthroscopic debridement (a cleanup, not a meniscus repair)
Official status: Out; full recovery expected, no return date announced
Reported timeline: Up to two months, per ESPN. The Athletic reports the hope is a return in December.
Next update: The team says further updates "will be provided when available." We'll update this page as soon as they are.

Anthony Edwards, wearing No. 1 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, runs up the court during a game against the Washington Wizards

Anthony Edwards (No. 1) runs the floor for the Timberwolves against the Wizards on Dec. 1, 2021. Photo: All-Pro Reels via Wikimedia Commons, cropped, licensed CC BY-SA 2.0.

What Happened to Anthony Edwards' Knee?

The trouble started in the season opener. Edwards tweaked his right knee in Minnesota's win in Miami, the Pioneer Press reported, and Charania noted it's the same knee that bothered him last season. By Sunday's home opener against Toronto, he was grabbing at it and grimacing, per ESPN.

He was listed as questionable for Monday's game at Cleveland and played anyway: 41 minutes and a game-high 47 points on 19-of-34 shooting in a 127-125 overtime loss. Afterward he said the knee felt "slightly different," and that was enough for the team to order more tests.

Tuesday's MRI showed new damage that hadn't shown up on earlier scans from the playoffs and from before training camp, ESPN reported. Timberwolves president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said the new imaging "showed an issue that we want to get addressed quickly." Edwards sat out Wednesday's game against Golden State and had surgery the next day.

Is It a Meniscus Injury?

No. Connelly wouldn't give the exact diagnosis, but he was clear on that point: "it's not a meniscus." The team calls the operation a debridement. ESPN, citing Mayo Clinic, describes that as a minimally invasive procedure to clean up or trim damaged cartilage, bone spurs or loose fragments inside the joint. Minnesota hasn't said exactly what was removed.

Connelly also said the knee isn't a long-term concern, and he expects Edwards to be "good as new" when he comes back. Still, this is one more item on a growing list of knee problems. According to the Pioneer Press, Edwards dealt with runner's knee in his right knee last season and a bone bruise in his left knee during the playoffs.

How Serious Is Anthony Edwards' Knee Surgery? What Doctors Say

One caveat first: the Timberwolves haven't said exactly what was treated inside Edwards' knee, so what follows describes the procedure in general, not his specific case.

Knee arthroscopy is minimally invasive. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) explains that surgeons insert a small camera through small incisions to examine and treat the joint, and they can trim damaged cartilage and remove loose fragments of bone or cartilage that way. Most patients go home the same day, and the AAOS calls the complication rate very low.

How fast someone recovers depends on what was done inside the knee. MedlinePlus, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's health information site, says simple procedures usually heal quickly, while more complex repairs can take several months or longer. Loose cartilage fragments are on its list of problems that are often easily fixed.

So how long are people usually out? Northwestern Medicine says arthroscopic debridement removes loose cartilage and smooths the joint surface, and that a return to full athletic activity is possible in as little as four to six weeks. The AAOS says many patients get back to most physical activities after about six to eight weeks, though high-impact sports can take longer. Both ranges line up with the up-to-two-month absence reported for Edwards.

The bigger worry is the long run. Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer told Yahoo Sports that a procedure like this, with a roughly two-month absence, isn't in itself a major structural knee injury. But he called it "a trade-off": taking out damaged tissue also takes out some of the cushioning that protects the joint, which can speed up wear and lead to more procedures later. The Timberwolves don't see it that way. Connelly said the knee isn't a long-term concern.

How Long Will Anthony Edwards Be Out?

Minnesota hasn't announced an official return date. The only formal word from the team is that Edwards should make a full recovery. The two-month figure comes from reporting: sources told ESPN he could miss up to two months, and The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski reported the hope is to have him back in December.

Sports Illustrated figures a two-month absence would cost him about 26 games, and points out that any setback in his recovery could push that back. Connelly said the team is "pretty confident" Edwards will return this season, adding that Edwards is doing this "kicking and screaming" because he wanted to keep playing.

What It Means for the Timberwolves

Losing Edwards means losing Minnesota's leading scorer. His 133 points through four games set a franchise record, per ESPN, and the Wolves were 3-1 with him in the lineup. The team has him averaging 33.3 points on 48.1% shooting, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 2.0 steals in 33.8 minutes a night.

Head coach Chris Finch said the scoring will have to come "by committee." Here's how the rotation is expected to shift:

Ayo Dosunmu moves into the starting lineup, per Sports Illustrated. He's been averaging 12 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
LaMelo Ball picks up more of the playmaking after averaging 14.8 points and 6.8 assists through four games.
Jaden McDaniels and Terrence Shannon Jr. should get bigger roles, with Shannon as the main scorer off the bench.

To see where Minnesota ranked going into the season, check our 2026-27 NBA power rankings, and you can follow the Wolves' upcoming games on the NBA Games hub. The West has another team in the same spot, too: Oklahoma City is without Jalen Williams, Chet Holmgren and Cason Wallace. Here's the latest Jalen Williams injury update.

The 65-Game Rule and Edwards' Supermax

There's a cost beyond the standings, too. The NBA's 65-game rule says players have to appear in at least 65 games to be eligible for major awards like MVP and All-NBA. Missing around two months would leave Edwards short of that mark for the second season in a row, the Pioneer Press reported.

And it ties into his next contract. ESPN's Bobby Marks says missing the minimum would make Edwards ineligible to sign a four-year supermax extension worth about $301 million next offseason, as well as a five-year, $389 million extension in 2028. Right now, though, the Wolves are focused on the knee. "Our job … is to make sure our guy is healthy for as long as possible," Connelly said.

Anthony Edwards Injury FAQ

What injury does Anthony Edwards have?

Edwards has a right knee issue that needed an arthroscopic debridement, a procedure to clean up damage inside the joint. Timberwolves president Tim Connelly said it isn’t a meniscus injury, and the team hasn’t released a more specific diagnosis.

How did Anthony Edwards injure his knee?

He tweaked his right knee in Minnesota’s season-opening win in Miami, the same knee that bothered him last season. He was seen grabbing it during the home opener against Toronto, then said it felt "slightly different" after scoring 47 points in an overtime loss at Cleveland. A follow-up MRI showed new damage that hadn’t appeared on earlier scans.

Why is Anthony Edwards not playing?

He’s recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, which he had on October 29, 2026. The Timberwolves expect a full recovery but haven’t set a return date, and sources told ESPN he could miss up to two months.

Did Anthony Edwards have surgery?

Yes. Edwards had a successful arthroscopic debridement on his right knee on Thursday, October 29, 2026. Dr. Craig Bennett performed it at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, the Timberwolves announced.

How long will Anthony Edwards be out?

The Timberwolves haven’t announced a timeline. Sources told ESPN he could be out up to two months, which would be about 26 games, and The Athletic reported the hope is a return in December.

When could Anthony Edwards return?

There’s no official return date yet. If the reported up-to-two-month timeline holds, a return around December is possible, and team president Tim Connelly said Minnesota is confident Edwards will be back this season.

Is Anthony Edwards’ injury serious?

The team expects a full recovery. Connelly said the knee isn’t a long-term concern and that Edwards should be "good as new." Sports medicine physician Dr. Brian Sutterer told Yahoo Sports the procedure isn’t in itself a major structural injury, though trimming damaged tissue can add wear over time. The absence could also cost Edwards eligibility for major awards under the 65-game rule.

Sources

Davis Vance

Sports Journalist, NBA GRID

Davis covers the NBA for NBA GRID, from injury updates and trades to contracts and season guides. He holds a degree in Journalism and Communication and a master's in Sports Journalism, and he builds every story on official team and league sources first.

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