Joel Embiid Needs Orbital Surgery And Has Been Placed In The NBA’s Concussion Protocol

There’s still no official timetable for Joel Embiid‘s return to the Philadelphia 76ers, but the word “surgery” is now in the equation for what’s been described as an orbital fracture for the forward.

The Sixers’ star will undergo facial surgery after taking a blow to the head on Wednesday night when he collided with teammate Markelle Fultz’s shoulder. Embiid left the game with what was described as a “facial contusion” and later posted a video of himself in the hospital with the caption “not good.”

Reports earlier on Thursday indicated that Embiid would not make the team’s two-game road trip, but as the day went on the talk was that he would be out longer than that. Now it seems all but certain, as the team released a statement on Thursday night that Embiid had suffered a fracture below his left eye and was also in the NBA’s concussion protocol.

There’s no timetable announced for Embiid’s return just yet, or what steps will be necessary for him to return to the court. Players have played with bone breaks while wearing masks, though they can be uncomfortable and not always easy to play in. For Sixers fans hoping Embiid’s “not good” was reactionary, the news is about as bad as it can get. And the uncertainty doesn’t help, either.

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/979508460747411456

There is optimism that he can be back sometime relatively soon, though, as Zach Lowe of ESPN reports that Embiid may only miss 2-4 weeks if all goes right.

The Sixers are still in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with a few weeks to go, but may now have to begin the postseason without The Process’ namesake.