Jazz starting center Jusuf Nurkic will be out for at least four weeks.

The Utah Jazz officially announced on Wednesday that their 32-year-old starting center, Jusuf Nurkić, suffered a partial tear in the plantar plate of his right second toe and is expected to be out for at least four weeks.

The experienced veteran will undergo a follow-up examination in four weeks, at which time the team will provide further updates on his recovery progress. For the Jazz, who aim for a higher seed in the Western Conference this season, this injury is undoubtedly a heavy blow to their start.

Nurkic was injured in Sunday's preseason opener against the Denver Nuggets and did not return after leaving the game late in the first half. The 32-year-old Nurkic has played 12 seasons in the league, averaging 11.8 points, 8.9 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game in his career.

Last season, Nurkic played 41 games for Salt Lake City (36 starts), and thanks to his reliable role as an inside anchor, he received a two-year, $22 million contract extension from the Jazz this offseason.

With the team's interior rotation adjustments, Nurkic was originally slated to play a crucial pivotal role in the new season's tactical landscape. His partnership with Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in a tall frontcourt would not only guarantee rebounding and size on defense, but also serve as the core high-post screener and playmaker in head coach Will Hardy's offensive system, creating space for the young backcourt stars.

After contributing 5 rebounds and 4 assists in just 11 minutes of play in the first game and helping his team establish a net advantage, a sudden injury has temporarily halted his new season. Over the next month, Nurkic will focus entirely on rehabilitation, while the Jazz's frontcourt will have to rely on their bench players to temporarily fill the void he leaves.

Image source: Internet/NBA official website