Bucks rookie Nate Ament still out with left ankle sprain but on track for opening night, Jenkins says

Milwaukee Bucks rookie Nate Ament sat out again Wednesday as he recovers from a left ankle sprain, but coach Taylor Jenkins said the first-round pick is making progress and, based on the team’s rehab timeline, is set to be back by opening night, Cameron Ezeir reported before the Bucks’ preseason home game against the Chicago Bulls.

Full list of #Bucks players who are OUT tonight against the Bulls because of rest, per Taylor Jenkins:

Tyler Herro
Ryan Rollins
Jaime Jaquez Jr.
AJ Green
Myles Turner
Gary Trent Jr.
Kyle Kuzma
Kevin Porter Jr.

Nate Ament is still recovering from his left ankle sprain. Jenkins…

— Cameron Ezeir (@camezeir) October 14, 2026

Ament has not played since he sprained the ankle on an awkward landing in the first half of the Bucks’ Oct. 7 preseason game at Oklahoma City. He did not return that night, and Jenkins said afterward that the rookie had imaging done on the ankle. The scan showed nothing overly concerning, Jenkins said three days later, when Ament was the only Bucks player not practicing.

“Constrained,” but moving more

Jenkins has kept the same message since then. On Oct. 10 he said Ament was aiming to play opening night and praised how the rookie was handling the setback, noting he was in a full sweat at practice even though he was not a full participant.

Taylor Jenkins on how Nate Ament is handling his ankle sprain so early into his rookie year. Added that he’s aiming to play opening night.

“He was in a full body sweat even though he wasn’t a full participant at practice today so I was impressed he was still able to get good… pic.twitter.com/mlThtgpO8R

— Cameron Ezeir (@camezeir) October 10, 2026

On Tuesday, Jenkins said Ament had “a little more movement in the half court but definitely constrained there, but making positive progress.” Wednesday’s update was the first time he tied the rookie’s recovery to a specific target, saying the rehab plan has him back for the start of the regular season.

Eight Bucks rest

Ament was the only Milwaukee player out Wednesday for an injury. Jenkins rested Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins, Jaime Jaquez Jr., AJ Green, Myles Turner, Gary Trent Jr., Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter Jr. Herro missed Tuesday’s practice while under the weather, and Jenkins said Tuesday that Green’s knee, which he hurt against Minnesota, feels good.

Bulls still without four

On the Chicago side, Isaac Okoro, Tobe Awaka, Zach Collins and Nic Claxton were all out, coach Tiago Splitter said, K.C. Johnson reported. Awaka is day-to-day with a knee injury, Claxton has been expected to miss a stretch and Collins is still working his way back, which again left Splitter short in the frontcourt.

For Milwaukee, the next checkpoint is whether Ament returns to full practice before the preseason ends. Until then, the Bucks are treating the sprain as a short-term issue rather than a threat to his first regular-season game.