Sixers' Joel Embiid Will Be Re-evaluated In A Week With Oblique Injury That's Already Cost Him 3 Games

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid is progressing in his recovery from the right oblique strain he suffered in a win over the Miami Heat last Thursday, but he's not back on the court yet and will be re-evaluated again in approximately one week, the team announced Friday, according to PhillyVoice's Adam Aaronson.

Both Embiid and rookie guard VJ Edgecombe, who is dealing with a back injury, didn't participate in Friday's practice, per the Sixers, via Aaronson.

Embiid has already missed three games with his oblique issue. He will miss at least three more based on the timeline the team provided, per Aaronson.

Embiid has appeared in only 33 of the Sixers' 62 games during their 2025-26 campaign. With 29 absences, he's awards-ineligible this season and has been for a while.

The soon-to-be 32-year-old Embiid also missed five consecutive games last month with a sore right knee and shin issue.

After playing in just 19 games last season because of lingering left-knee issues that ultimately resulted in him going under the knife in April 2025, Embiid found himself sidelined again for a significant stretch early this season, this time due to a right knee injury.

When the seven-time All-Star center has been on the court this season, he's shown why he's still valuable. He's averaging 26.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per game. He's turned in a dozen 30-plus-point performances, including a 40-piece in a Jan. 31 win against the New Orleans Pelicans.

The Sixers are 21-12 in the games Embiid has played in this season. They are 13-16 without him on the court, currently placing sixth in the Eastern Conference standings at 34-28 overall. 

As for Edgecombe, last year's No. 3 overall draft pick, he sustained a lumbar contusion when he fell hard on his lower back after being fouled from behind on a 3-point attempt in a lopsided defeat to the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

He was in street clothes for Philadelphia's bounce-back win over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday. His status is up in the air for Saturday when the Sixers will play the Atlanta Hawks on the road.

Edgecombe is averaging 15.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game in his first year out of Baylor. He and Embiid are key pieces of a Sixers squad looking to return to the postseason.