Should the Pelicans be worried about Brandon Ingram?

Brandon Ingram will be out again tonight when the New Orleans Pelicans take on the San Antonio Spurs.

Ingram reportedly suffered a small setback with his sprained toe and will miss at least the next two games after initially hoping to return this week.

Brandon Ingram has already missed 11 games in a row and has been out for close to a month. He’s missed 15 games total, and though the Pelicans have done well in his absence, they need him back.

The Pelicans have had some of their weaknesses exposed in this recent four-game losing streak, and in addition to Ingram, both Zion Williamson and Larry Nance Jr. are expected to be out tonight, leaving New Orleans short handed once again.

Toe injuries are tricky and they pretty much affect the entire lower body, as the noble toe is carrying a lot of weight and is needed to push off and jump among myriad other movements.

Ingram’s x rays showed no major injuries or broken bones, but is it time to be concerned about how long this toe is taking to heal?

New Orleans Pelicans: Brandon Ingram’s cursed toe

The Pelicans just keep saying the same thing about their star’s injury, reassuring fans that he is making progress, as Willie Green said after the last game:

"“He’s getting better,” Green said. “It’s just been a slower process than we all expected. But he’s getting better.”"

But the longer this goes on, the more the Pelicans have to be concerned that this toe injury could be more serious, though they’ve repeatedly said that it’s just a sprain.

I know from experience that sprains can take forever to heal, so count me as one that wouldn’t be surprised if Ingram has to miss more than just two more games.

Hopefully this is not something that will need surgery or more extended time off, but as this toe injury continues to linger, the fanbase is getting a little nervous.

Given the Pels’ spotty injury history, it may be time for David Griffin to start looking for reinforcements to bolster the roster depth.