Is Ja Morant playing tonight vs the Houston Rockets? Latest update on the Memphis Grizzlies star's injury report (January 26, 2026)

The Memphis Grizzlies will be without Ja Morant on Monday night against the Houston Rockets. He has been officially ruled out with a left-elbow UCL sprain and is expected to miss several weeks.This is another setback for Memphis during a season already affected by injuries. Morant had just returned from a calf issue and looked close to full speed before the elbow problem forced him back to the sidelines. With their lead guard out again, the Grizzlies will need to adjust quickly on the road.Ja Morant suffered a sprained ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow earlier this month, around the time of a game against Atlanta. The team has announced he will be re-evaluated in about three weeks. That puts his potential return sometime in mid-February, assuming no complications.Before the injury, Morant showed no signs of slowing down. In two games after returning from his calf injury, he recorded 24 points and 13 assists against Orlando, then followed that with 23 points and 12 assists versus Atlanta. The elbow issue surfaced shortly after.With Morant unavailable, Memphis Grizzlies is expected to run its offense through Cam Spencer, with Cedric Coward and Jaylen Wells sharing backcourt duties. In the frontcourt, the workload increases for Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama, both of whom will be relied on for scoring and defensive stability.Houston enters the matchup in better health and will lean on Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün to control the game. Without Morant, Memphis is viewed as a clear underdog.Ja Morant’s absence shifts more minutes and shots to Memphis’ role players, especially Jackson Jr., Wells, and Spencer. From a betting and fantasy perspective, Houston holds a clear edge in ball control and late-game execution.The situation also adds context to ongoing trade discussions around Morant and the Grizzlies, as the team continues to struggle with availability and consistency.Ja Morant will not play against the Houston Rockets on Monday, January 26, 2026. He is sidelined with a left-elbow UCL sprain and will be re-evaluated in roughly three weeks. Until then, Memphis must manage without its primary playmaker.