Mitchell Robinson

Robinson (foot) is unlikely to be cleared for game action until "at least late January," Shams Charania of ESPN reports.

Knicks center Mitchell Robinson is progressing in his rehab from offseason foot surgery but he has not graduated to any team drills or running, head coach Tom Thibodeau said after Saturday's loss to the Detroit Pistons.

With Robinson absent from the initial injury report, there was hope he would make his season debut on Saturday. Alas, an error was apparently made, as he's listed as out on the updated report. Precious Achiuwa, who made his season debut on Thursday, will play rotation minutes behind Karl-Anthony Towns but is not worth rostering in most fantasy leagues.

Well, this is certainly an interesting turn of events. In mid-October, it was reported that Robinson was targeting a January return to the court. It's possible that the Knicks mistakenly left his name off the injury report filed for Saturday's game. If not, and he can play, Robinson will give the Knicks welcome boosts in rebounding and rim protection. Expect him to be under a heavy minutes restriction whenever he does return.

Achiuwa made his long-awaited season debut on Thursday, and the Knicks didn't ask too much of their reserve forward (which is understandable). He's unlikely to be a valuable fantasy asset once he is no longer restricted. Still, Precious gives the Knicks another option to call on in the frontcourt while they await Mitchell Robinson's return from offseason ankle surgery.