Season-ending injury leads to job loss! Jazz cut Williams after ACL tear from Eason collision

On March 10 Beijing time, according to a report by Reynolds of the Salt Lake Tribune, the Utah Jazz will waive injured guard Vince Williams Jr.

Williams suffered a left knee ACL tear after being collided by Eason in a game against the Rockets on February 24, which was only his sixth game playing for the Jazz. This injury not only ended his 2025‑26 season prematurely but is also expected to cause him to miss a significant portion of the 2026‑27 season, assuming he can sign with another team.

As the 47th pick in the 2022 draft, Williams was traded from the Grizzlies to the Jazz last month along with Jaren Jackson Jr. and two other players.

In his six games for the Jazz, he averaged 4.7 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.7 assists. Before the trade, he played 34 games for the Grizzlies, averaging 8.0 points, 4.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds in 21.6 minutes per game.

Williams' contract this season is worth $2.3 million. The Jazz originally held a $2.5 million team option for him for the 2026‑27 season, which will be automatically relinquished if he clears waivers (unclaimed).

Due to a wave of injuries affecting the team, the Jazz decided to open up a roster spot. Previously, Jackson, Nurkic, and Kessler have all been announced as season-ending, and Markkanen is also sidelined due to a hip injury. Currently, the Jazz have 13 players on their regular roster plus a 10-day contract player, Bamba.