Sixers’ Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow miss practice before opener, VJ Edgecombe on track

Dean Wade and Dominick Barlow both sat out the Philadelphia 76ers‘ practice on Sunday, October 18, two days before the season opener at Madison Square Garden, while VJ Edgecombe took a full part and looks set to start the year on time.

The good news on Edgecombe matters most for Nick Nurse. The second-year guard did not play in Friday’s preseason finale against the Boston Celtics after waking up sore that morning, but coach Nurse told reporters on Sunday, a among them, that the guard was a full participant and is on track for Tuesday.

Wade’s ankle and Barlow’s back

Wade’s issue dates to that same Friday game. The veteran forward turned his left ankle before halftime of the 125-120 overtime loss and never came back out after halftime, finishing with no points, two assists and a steal in 12 minutes and 54 seconds. Kyle Neubeck of PHLY Sports reported the injury, and Nurse played it down, calling it “not a major concern” and explaining that the team was being careful because it was only a preseason game. No diagnosis beyond the rolled ankle has been announced, and his absence from Sunday’s session leaves his status for the opener open.

Barlow is the bigger worry. The forward has been dealing with back soreness since the first days of training camp, did not appear in any of Philadelphia’s preseason games and was again held out on Sunday. Reports said the latest missed practice, and the longer the problem lingers, the more likely it is that his absence carries into the regular season. The team has not given a timeline.

What it means for the rotation

Wade, who arrived from Cleveland, was brought in to be one of the first big men off the bench, backing up LeBron James at forward and, at times, Joel Embiid in the middle. The starting group of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, James and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is not affected, but the frontcourt depth behind it is thinning, with Adem Bona also nursing a foot problem.

If Wade and Barlow cannot go, Jabari Walker is the obvious next man. He scored 13 points in 19 minutes against Boston, making all five of his free throws. Justin Edwards, who played 25 minutes and grabbed six rebounds in the finale, is another option, along with the recently converted two-way center Tacko Fall.

Embiid himself looked ready in the last tune-up, scoring 27 points with eight rebounds and five assists in 29 minutes, and Maxey added 22.

What comes next

The 76ers open the 2026-27 regular season at the New York Knicks on Tuesday, October 20, at 7:00 p.m. ET, the night the champions raise their banner. Expect the official injury report to clarify Wade’s and Barlow’s status before tip-off. Follow the game in the Game Center, and keep up with every team’s list on the injuries page.