Ty Jerome's imminent return injects much-needed hope, nearing a full-contact debut after a lengthy calf strain. The Grizzlies anticipate reinforcement within weeks.
Ty Jerome’s long-awaited Memphis Grizzlies debut is finally coming into focus, offering a rare bit of optimism amid another season shaped by injuries and uncertainty.
The guard, signed last summer to help stabilize a reshaped backcourt, is within one to two weeks of returning to game action after spending the opening months sidelined with a calf strain. Memphis coach Tuomas Iisalo said Friday that Jerome has cleared a significant hurdle in his recovery and is nearing full clearance.
After initially being projected for a shorter absence, Jerome’s timeline stretched into the winter as the team opted for caution. Now, he has progressed to full-contact work and is focused on building the conditioning necessary to withstand NBA minutes.
Iisalo detailed where Jerome stands physically and why the team believes the finish line is close.
“He’s already progressed to five on five live,” Iisalo said. “So we’re very close. I think the evaluation is somewhere within one or two weeks, something like this. He still needs to build a little bit of load before the actual games. But he’s doing great. He’s progressing really well and in high spirits.”
Jerome arrived in Memphis during the 2025 offseason as a mid-tier free agent signing, part of the franchise’s effort to rebalance its roster after trading Desmond Bane to the Orlando Magic. His role was clear: provide efficient scoring, secondary playmaking and lineup flexibility to a bench that had leaned heavily on starters in recent years.
That plan stalled almost immediately when Jerome suffered a calf injury during the preseason. The Grizzlies initially described the issue as a four-week setback before revising the estimate to six-to-nine weeks. He is now at the tail end of that range, with his return aligning with a point in the schedule where Memphis could use reinforcement.
Jerome is coming off the most productive season of his career with the Cleveland Cavaliers, averaging 12.5 points and 3.4 assists per game while shooting better than 50 percent from the field and 43 percent from three. His efficiency and comfort operating in pick-and-roll actions elevated his market, particularly among teams seeking bench scoring without high-usage demands.
Memphis ultimately secured him on a three-year, $28 million deal that includes a player option in the final season. League reporting indicated the contract was signed using cap room rather than the full non-taxpayer mid-level exception, a structure that allowed the Grizzlies to stay below the price many around the league expected Jerome to command after his breakout year.
The signing was widely viewed as a value move, especially given interest from other cap-space teams, including Utah, and Cleveland’s limited ability to retain him due to luxury tax constraints.
Jerome’s absence has been felt during a season again defined by attrition. Scotty Pippen Jr. has yet to play and could return in February. Zach Edey has appeared in only 11 games and remains out with an ankle injury. Brandon Clarke has been limited to two appearances and is sidelined with a calf strain. Even Ja Morant has been in and out of the lineup and is unavailable for Friday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans because of an elbow injury.
Within that context, Jerome’s nearing return carries added significance. His shooting gravity and on-ball scoring were designed to reduce pressure on Memphis’ primary creators and allow lineups to function with more balance. The Grizzlies envisioned him thriving alongside defensive wings, rather than being stretched into oversized offensive responsibility.
As Jerome works toward game readiness, Memphis is hopeful that his arrival can help stabilize rotations and provide a measure of continuity that has been difficult to find. After months of waiting, the Grizzlies appear poised to finally see what they targeted last summer—and why they believed Jerome was worth the investment.