What Happened to OG Anunoby? Star Exits Knicks vs. Celtics Game With Injury

Tonight, the New York Knicks faced the Boston Celtics for their second regular-season matchup, and all eyes were on OG Anunoby. The forward was coming off an impressive performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Knicks’ season opener, but he seemed to suffer a setback on the court. Fans were immediately concerned after he appeared to be injured and was walking off the court.

After being taken out of the game, Anunoby was spotted on the sideline being attended to by trainers. Knicks insider Ian Begley reported: “Doesn’t seem like he’s going to the back/locker room, which could be a positive sign

.” He was previously listed as ‘probable’ with a left ankle sprain before the matchup, but ended up playing against the Celtics anyway.

Shortly afterward, Anunoby was spotted getting some warmup. Begley revealed, “

OG Anunoby is now pedaling on the stationary bike in the tunnel, possibly another sign that his injury isn’t overly severe.” The sight of him remaining active and working his ankle provided reassurance, especially because Anunoby didn’t end up going to the locker room.

Soon enough, Anunoby returned to the Knicks bench. Though what happened to him remains unclear, his ability to remain in the environment of the game has helped alleviate the early anxiety about the severity of his injury.

After the game, Knicks head coach Mike Brown directly addressed Anunoby’s condition. Begley reported, “OG Anunoby would have been able to go back in the game if needed, Mike Brown said. Anunoby had a cramp and left floor in fourth quarter. Seems like a non-issue

.”

While the injury was surprising, Anunoby’s presence on the pre-game injury report signals that the team was cautious in its approach. Staff will make sure to monitor him closely going into their next matchup.

Mike Brown praises OG Anunoby’s dominance against the Cleveland Cavaliers

OG Anunoby put on a highlight-filled night against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the Knicks’ season opener, finishing the game with 24 points and 14 rebounds. He guarded multiple Cavs players, and Mike Brown heaped praise on him during the post-game conference: “

OG was a monster… he was our defensive player of the game. He guarded multiple guys tonight, and his energy on both ends set the tone for us.”

Alongside Anunoby, the Knicks were led by Jalen Brunson’s 23 points and Karl-Anthony Towns‘ 19. Brown, who debuted as Knicks head coach this game, made adjustments and contained the third-quarter surge from the Cavaliers, including a pivotal 14-0 fourth-quarter run that sealed the game. “

OG’s impact doesn’t always show in the box score, but tonight it did,” Brown said. “When you have someone who can defend multiple positions like that and still give you 24 and 14, it changes everything. He and KAT really anchored us tonight
.”

Looking ahead, the Knicks are going to face the Miami Heat at Kaseya Center on Sunday. The Heat are coming off a blowout win against the Grizzlies, and Towns will have to show up offensively against a monstrous defensive frontcourt. OG Anunoby is going to have a challenging defensive matchup against Norman Powell, and it might end up deciding how the game goes.

The Packers are being urged to trade Malik Willis for a former 1st-round QB.

Green Bay Packers starting quarterback Jordan Love is off to a fine start to the 2025 regular season and carrying with him the team’s hopes to compete for a Super Bowl, but not everyone is content with the backup sitting behind him.

Earlier this week, USA Today’s Nate Davis made the case for 12 players to draw interest from other teams on the market before the 2025 NFL trade deadline on November 4, connecting dots between the Packers and the Las Vegas Raiders’ quarterback room.

Davis’ argument? The Packers should call the Raiders about the availability of former first-round pick and backup Kenny Pickett to add a “more experienced fallback” than current No. 2 quarterback Malik Willis, who started two games for them in 2025.

“Malik Willis carried the Pack in a pinch without Jordan Love last year, but he was hardly asked to operate the offense at a similar level,” Davis wrote Wednesday. “Maybe he’s up to the task now … and maybe Green Bay would be wise to look at a more experienced fallback if, say, Love were to be lost for a six-week stretch.”

Kenny Pickett Has Limited Appeal After Browns Stint

Davis is not the first analyst to suggest the Packers might want to start thinking about the future of their quarterback room behind Love. Willis has been good for them, but he is in the final season of his rookie contract and seems more likely to exit in free agency for an opportunity to start than to re-sign with the Packers as their long-term No. 2.

As far as potential replacements go, though, Pickett is hardly a high-end choice.

Pickett, the No. 20 overall pick in 2022, spent two seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers as their starting quarterback, completing 62.6% of his passes for 4,474 yards with 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 25 total appearances. When the Steelers signed Russell Wilson in 2024, though, they quickly traded him away to Philadelphia.

Since then, Pickett has struggled to earn playing time. He played extended snaps in two games for the Eagles near the end of the 2024 season, but he went just 24-of-39 passing for 286 yards with two touchdowns and one interception in his limited showings.

After the season, the Eagles passed the backup reins to Tanner McKee and traded away Pickett to the Cleveland Browns, where he was to compete in a four-way QB battle for the starting job with Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. A hamstring injury, however, kept him out of the running for the entire preseason.

The Browns then offloaded Pickett to the Raiders for a fifth-round pick before the roster cutdown, cutting their losses with the former top-20 pick despite doubts at quarterback.

Maybe Pickett will find the right situation in the future and catch fire, but his resume is not nearly sparkling enough for the Packers to think he could meaningfully push Willis.

Packers Shut Down Trade Interest in Malik Willis

Even if Pickett had a stronger resume and ranked among the upper echelon of young backup quarterbacks, the Packers wouldn’t have much of a reason to trade for him.

That’s because Willis, for all his shortcomings in Tennessee, has breathed new life into his career since arriving in Green Bay on a low-cost trade before the 2024 season.

Willis did not break any barriers with his two spot-starts for Love in 2024, but he did run head coach Matt LaFleur’s offense efficiently to help the Packers win both games. In his two starts, he completed 25-of-33 passes (75.8%) for 324 yards, two touchdowns and zero turnovers. He also rushed 12 times for 114 yards and another score.

While his playing time since then has been minimal, the Packers have made it clear that they value their No. 2 quarterback. According to Packer Report’s Easton Butler, the Cincinnati Bengals called the Packers to inquire about Willis’ availability in a trade after losing starter Joe Burrow to a significant injury. Nothing, however, came of that call.

If the Packers aren’t willing to trade Willis to a desperate team with quarterback needs, then it stands to reason they would have no desire to acquire Pickett to push him.