Beal appears fine for Wizards' season-opener originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington
Despite suffering a bad bruise on his right knee that led to significant swelling in the Wizards' final preseason game on Friday, Bradley Beal is on track to play in their regular season opener against the Toronto Raptors.
Beal described it as an injury he initially didn't even realize had happened, but quickly became more alarming.
We're making it easier for you to find stories that matter with our new newsletter — The 4Front. Sign up here and get news that is important for you to your inbox.
"My adrenaline was going, so I kept playing. When I got subbed out, I looked down and I had a fat knot on the bottom of my patella," he said.
Beal informed the media on Monday he underwent X-rays on his knee, which came back negative. After an off-day Saturday, he practiced on Sunday and then was able to do more on Monday.
Beal has a reputation within the Wizards' organization for being a quick healer and, sure enough, he worked his wonders again.
"I’m like Wolverine healing-wise," he joked.
Beal, 28, is entering his 10th NBA season fresh off his first All-NBA nod last year. He has a lot of new teammates and a new coaching staff, led by head coach Wes Unseld Jr.
The Wizards want to get off to a good start after beginning last season 0-5 and then 2-8. Having Beal in the mix will certainly help their effort to avoid an early hole.
"I don’t anticipate any issue," Unseld Jr. said.
The Wizards are in good shape health-wise entering the season with Beal on the mend. Others who are out have long been expected to be missing. They will be without Thomas Bryant, who is still rehabbing an ACL injury, and Rui Hachimura, who is close to joining the team after an extended absence due to personal reasons.
