Celtics Send Message To Former Player After Worrisome Health Update
The Boston Celtics are beginning to ramp up their preparations for the 2025-26 campaign. On Thursday, though, the team received a concerning update regarding the health of one of their former players, center Jason Collins.
The No. 18 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, Collins initially broke into the league with the New Jersey Nets, spending the first six-and-a-half seasons of his career with them. Collins would go on to play for the Memphis Grizzlies, Minnesota Timberwolves, Atlanta Hawks, Celtics and Washington Wizards before returning to the Nets to close out his career.
Collins signed with Boston for the 2012-13 season, playing in 32 contests for them, averaging 1.2 points, 1.6 rebounds and 0.2 assists per game. He ended up getting traded to the Wizards alongside Leandro Barbosa midway through the season in exchange for Jordan Crawford.
Known for being the first male athlete in the four major North American sports leagues to come out publicly as gay, Collins retired after the 2013-14 season. On Thursday, the NBA announced that Collins was undergoing treatment for a brain tumor, with Boston quickly sending a message of support to their former player.
“The Celtics family sends its love and support to Jason Collins,” the C’s said in a post on X.
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Since retiring from the league, Collins has served as an ambassador for the NBA. His time with the Celtics was brief, but Collins managed to make his mark on the team, even though he got traded midway through the season.
On the court, Boston is beginning to get itself ready for the new season. Expectations have been tampered thanks to a handful of offseason departures and Jayson Tatum’s Achilles injury, but you can bet the C’s will come out looking to surprise everyone and remain a top playoff contender in the Eastern Conference.
Broncos’ Evan Engram, Dre Greenlaw get mixed injury update before Week 2 Colts showdown
The Denver Broncos are getting a mixed injury report on Friday as they prepare to take on the Indianapolis Colts
Both teams are 1-0 and have a chance to be playoff-caliber teams in 2025-26. Denver barely snuck by the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, while the Colts demolished the Miami Dolphins with a perfect game. This battle on Sunday could have playoff implications come winter.
The Broncos' injury report against the Colts could be concerning.
Tight end Evan Engram will be active. He will be a major weapon to Bo Nix and the offense once he gets settled with his new team. Linebacker Alex Singleton and defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers are also full practice participants and should be good to go for this Sunday as well.
Star linebacker Dre Greenlaw is out once again. The former San Francisco 49er did not play against the Titans in Week 1 and will eventually make his debut with the team. It could be next week against the Los Angeles Chargers in their first AFC West matchup of the season. Tight end Nate Adkins is also out against the Colts.
Some believed QB Bo Nix was awful against the Titans in Week 1. You could make an argument that every single game he played as a rookie was better than the one he played last Sunday. However, he has a very long career ahead of him. The future is bright, especially with head coach Sean Payton around. The Broncos turned the ball over four times and still won, and did not allow the Titans to score a touchdown.
Ugly wins are not pretty, but you will always take an ugly win in Week 1. You can build from it. Many teams struggle early in the season, but seeing a W in the win column is what matters.
