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In a bit of good news for the New Orleans Pelicans, it looks like Zion Williamson is progressing well in his recovery from a broken foot.
According to NBA insider Marc Stein, the Pelicans have cleared Williamson to do contact drills, which is a significant step in his bid to return to game action. He's starting with 1-on-1 workouts until he's able to participate on full scrimmages with the team.
The Pelicans say Zion Williamson has been cleared to participate in contact drills, beginning with 1-on-1 workouts and progressively working towards full team workouts.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 16, 2021
Zion Williamson underwent surgery for a fractured right foot during the offseason, though it was initially thought to be a minor issue since Pelicans exec David Griffin claimed the All-Star forward would be ready at the start of the 2021-22 season.
Unfortunately, that didn't happen as Williamson seems to be having a hard time recovering from the injury. In fact, recent reports said that he is not even remotely close to game shape and his injury has been slow to heal, which is why New Orleans keeps pushing back his timeline.
While Williamson is returning to practice, though, it is still unknown when he'll be available to suit up for the Pelicans. As noted, his weight has been a major talking point aside from his foot injury, with fans and experts alike observing that he is not in the best condition to play.
The Pelicans are 2-13 on the season and can definitely use the help of Zion, but at the end of the day, their priority is to make sure their prized forward is 100 percent healthy and ready to contribute. They simply can't rush him and risk the possibility of reinjuring his foot.