Jaxson Hayes suffered a torn UCL in his left elbow during Friday’s preseason game, the Pelicans announced in a press release.
Hayes will go through a rehab program, and his condition will be re-evaluated in two weeks. That means he’ll miss at least the first two games of the regular season, Oct. 19 at Brooklyn and Oct. 21 at Charlotte.
The 22-year-old center appeared in 70 games last season and averaged 9.3 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20 minutes per night. He’s had a steady role as a back-up big man since being selected with the eighth pick in the 2019 draft.
Hayes is among 18 players eligible to receive rookie scale extensions before the October 17 deadline. If he and the team don’t come to an agreement, Hayes will be a restricted free agent next summer.