Trail Blazers: Cody Zeller’s injury history and update on patellar fracture

A review of Cody Zeller’s injury history and an update on his latest status:

Until 2016, current Portland Trail Blazers backup center Cody Zeller was the model of health, missing just three games due to illness his second year.

But he has suffered consistent significant injuries since then, including multiple knee injuries, a broken hand, and a hip contusion.

Those injuries, combined with his current patellar fracture, have put him out of the lineup more than 110 times in the past five seasons. Ironically, the only fully healthy season he’s had since 2016 was the COVID-shortened and bubble-concluded 2019-2020 campaign.

This article was updated on January 28.

Cody Zeller injury update:

Zeller has been out since January 12 with a patellar fracture and had surgery in Los Angeles on Wednesday, January 28. He will be out for at least two months.

Cody Zeller shoulder, hand and hip injuries, 2020-2021

Zeller missed 26 games for the Charlotte Hornets in the 2020-21 season with injuries to his hip, hand, and shoulder. He had surgery on December 24, 2020 to repair a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand.

Cody Zeller right hand surgery, 2019

Zeller broke the third metacarpal in his right hand on New Year’s Eve in 2018 and had surgery to repair it on January 3.

Cody Zeller left rib contusion, 2018

Zeller missed one game after suffering a left rib contusion against Utah on November 30.

Cody Zeller left knee, 2018

Zeller’s 2017-18 season ended on March 8 due to soreness in his left knee.

Cody Zeller torn meniscus, 2017

Zeller had surgery in December of 2017 to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. He returned to the lineup on February 2 and played 14 games before being sidelined again.

Cody Zeller bruised right knee, 2017

Zeller suffered a bruised right knee in the third game of the 2017-18 season and missed four games before returning. He would play a total of just 33 games that season, a career low that could be surpassed this year – Zeller has played in only 27 games for the Blazers this season.