Massive Joel Embiid and Paul George Injury Update Announced Amid Philadelphia 76ers Injury Woes

The Philadelphia 76ers have faced a rough start to the 2025-2026 season, losing two of their biggest stars to early injuries. Joel Embiid has been dealing with a right knee issue, while Paul George has been sidelined for the entire season with a problem in his left knee. But now, it seems there’s some hope for the Sixers as both players are making progress in their recoveries.

NBA insider Shams Charania recently shared positive updates about their rehab. He reported that George is nearing a return and is just waiting for medical clearance.

“76ers' Paul George is in the final stage of his debut process and will be re-evaluated later this week,” Charania wrote on X. “He is moving closer to a return, but doctors want additional strength of his left quadriceps to support the knee before clearance.”

Shams Charania

@ShamsCharania

76ers' Paul George is in the final stage of his debut process and will be re-evaluated later this week. He is moving closer to a return, but doctors want additional strength of his left quadriceps to support the knee before clearance.

Charania also provided some encouraging news on Embiid, noting that the team downgraded his injury status to “day-to-day” after a recent check-up.

“76ers center Joel Embiid was re-evaluated tonight on his right knee – and has no structural issues and is day to day.”

Shams Charania

@ShamsCharania

76ers center Joel Embiid was re-evaluated tonight on his right knee – and has no structural issues and is day to day.

Joel Embiid has appeared in six games so far this season, with his most recent outing coming on Nov. 8 against the Toronto Raptors. That game was easily his best showing of the year, as he recorded 29 points, six rebounds and four assists in just 26 minutes, leading the Sixers to a 130-120 win.

Paul George, on the other hand, has yet to make his season debut and didn’t even see any action during the preseason either. The good news is that the team has been steadily ramping up his activity during practice. Recently, he’s taken part fully in team practices, signaling that he’s getting closer to being game-ready.

Justin Edwards shines in close win over Boston in Paul George and Joel Embiid’s absence

The Philadelphia 76ers got a big and surprising lift from Justin Edwards in their 102-100 win over the Boston Celtics. With the team missing several frontcourt players like Paul George, Joel Embiid, Dominick Barlow, and Johni Broome, Edwards saw a major increase in his minutes than his regular playing time.

The second-year forward made the most of the opportunity, putting up a season-high of 22 points along with three rebounds and three assists.

“I love him. I don’t worry about him. He works extremely hard,” Nick Nurse said. “He’s not perfect, but he’s a really good, developing young player that I love. When he has a bad game, it doesn’t even phase me, because I love him.”

Even with George and Embiid close to returning, Edwards’ growth couldn’t have come at a better time. His recent play will give Coach Nurse even more confidence that the young forward can play a significant role in the team’s rotation.