We're now in 2026, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Scoot Henderson somehow still remains without a timeline to return.
Henderson has dealt with a lingering hamstring tear, which was suffered during an offseason workout. On Jan. 1, the Blazers announced that Scoot has initiated non-contact, on-court basketball activities, adding that he would be re-evaluated in two weeks. Another update on his status could come soon, as we're already past that two-week timeline.
Scoot Henderson remains without a timeline to return
Unfortunately, injuries sidelining key players longer than expected have been a consistent theme for Blazers fans this year. Jrue Holiday was sidelined for roughly two months after suffering a calf strain on Nov. 14, but has finally been able to return in a limited capacity for Portland.
Hopefully, the same situation unfolds sooner rather than later for Henderson, although we don't have much reason for optimism due to the fact that a seemingly relatively minor injury has now sidelined him for the entire first half of the 2025-26 season.
Near the end of September, Blazers general manager Joe Cronin mentioned that Henderson's injury isn't expected to require surgery. So what's going on? And why has it taken this long not only for him to return, but also for the Blazers to provide more of a concrete update?
In a season filled with mysterious lingering injuries for Portland, Scoot's situation has unfortunately taken the cake. Given the lack of updates, it's fair to question whether fans will realistically see him back by the All-Star break.
The silver lining of this injury is that Portland has been able to step up in his absence, remaining in the playoff picture out west. At the same time, the untimely nature of this injury also leaves many to wonder how Scott will fit into this young core. The Blazers' youth have taken significant strides this season, proving that they don't necessarily need Henderson in order to succeed going forward. The most important development has been Deni Avdija taking on more of an increased point forward role, meaning Henderson could now be deemed more expendable.
The Blazers don't have to make a quick decision about their backcourt and will likely give Henderson the chance to prove himself before evaluating their backcourt. But given how quiet it's been, it remains to be seen if Henderson will actually be able to return by the Feb. 5 trade deadline, which could complicate the front office's decision-making.
This entire situation regarding Scott has been strange, and the fact that it's dragged on for so long doesn't give us reason for optimism. But one way or another, fans are just hoping for any update at this point to gain more clarity.