Cleveland Cavaliers forward Evan Mobley will be sidelined for the second time this season due to a strained left calf and is expected to miss one to three weeks, the team announced Tuesday.
Evan Mobley Has Suffered Another Calf Injury
Mobley suffered the injury during Cleveland’s 114-98 victory over the Orlando Magic on Monday night. An MRI on Tuesday revealed the strain after he experienced tightness in the calf following the game.
The reigning Defensive Player of the Year missed five games in December because of a Grade 1 strain of the same calf. His timeline to return from that injury was two to four weeks, according to the Cavs.
Through 42 appearances (40 starts) this season, Mobley is averaging 17.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, a career-high 4.0 assists, and 33.4 minutes per game while shooting 51.2% from the field and 30.4% from deep.
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) January 27, 2026
Mobley recorded his 500th career block on Monday night, making the 24-year-old the youngest Cavs player to reach that milestone. He’s also fourth in the league in blocks this season with 82, trailing Jay Huff (94), Chet Holmgren (85), and Victor Wembanyama (85).
According to Basketball Reference, the Cavaliers have a +5.5 net rating with the 6-foot-11 big man on the court this season and a -1.3 mark when he isn’t playing.
Injuries Continue To Impact Cavaliers
The Cavs have already dealt with several injuries this season.
All-Star guard Donovan Mitchell and second-year standout Jaylon Tyson have missed games, as well as veteran guard Darius Garland, starting center Jarrett Allen, and reserve guard Sam Merrill.
In addition, six-year veteran forward Max Strus has yet to make his season debut.
The Cavs announced in August that Strus would undergo surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot and would miss approximately three to four months.
On Jan. 6, the team said Strus would miss at least another month after undergoing further imaging on his foot. The evaluation and imaging revealed positive progress, but additional time has been needed for the fracture to fully heal.
Cleveland is set to face LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night while on its second four-game winning streak of the season with a 28-20 record.
The Cavaliers are scheduled for a five-game road trip after hosting the Lakers.
