Grizzlies forward Ziaire Williams out 4-6 more weeks with knee injury

The Memphis Grizzlies will be without forward Ziaire Williams for at least another month.

Williams will miss four to six weeks due to right knee soreness from patellar tendinitis, the team announced Wednesday night.

Williams missed the Grizzlies’ final two preseason games with knee soreness, and has been listed as “day-to-day” since. He has been sidelined for the Grizzlies’ first four games of the season, but Williams was reportedly progressing and starting to ramp up activities.

With his setback, Williams will be out until about Thanksgiving at the best. If all goes well, based on the four-week minimum, he could be back in time for Memphis' matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans on Nov. 25, though an early-December return is more likely.

Williams averaged 8.1 points and 2.1 rebounds last season while making 31 starts. The former No. 10 overall draft pick was expected to make a significant impact this season for the Grizzlies, who are coming off their best season in nearly a decade after reaching the Western Conference semifinals.

With Williams out, both rookies Jake LaRavia and David Roddy will help fill his spot. LaRavia, the No. 19 overall pick out of Wake Forest, has averaged 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds in just more than 15 minutes per game this season. Roddy, the No. 23 overall pick out of Colorado State, has put up five points in 16.5 minutes per game.