Kings lose Dylan Cardwell for at least two weeks with a calf strain

SACRAMENTO — Oct. 13, 2026 — The Sacramento Kings will be without center Dylan Cardwell for at least two weeks after an MRI revealed a strained left calf, the team announced Tuesday.

Diagnosis comes after a missed game

Cardwell had already been held out of Saturday’s preseason game against the Golden State Warriors because of the calf. The imaging confirmed the strain, and the minimum two-week timeline means he is expected to miss at least the start of the regular season.

Sacramento opens its schedule on Oct. 21 against the Los Angeles Clippers, so the second-year big man is unlikely to be available for that game and could miss more if his recovery takes longer than the initial estimate.

Center depth takes another hit

The timing is rough for a frontcourt that was already short-handed. Fellow big man Maxime Raynaud is also sidelined for at least two weeks with a right patellar subluxation he suffered in Saturday’s game against Golden State. Raynaud’s kneecap injury means both of the Kings’ main reserve centers are now out at once.

That leaves starter Domantas Sabonis carrying the bulk of the work in the middle. Behind him, the realistic options are Precious Achiuwa, who has played mostly at power forward, and two-way forward Jonathan Mogbo, who could see more chances to earn minutes during the final preseason tune-ups.

What Cardwell brings

The former Auburn center played in 44 games as a rookie last season, averaging 5.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in 20.6 minutes per night. His rebounding and rim protection made him a useful energy option off the bench, and the Kings will have to find that production elsewhere until he is cleared.

The team did not give a more detailed return date beyond the two-week minimum. Further updates are expected once Cardwell is re-evaluated.