Max Struss gets an injury update 7 months after undergoing foot surgery

The Cleveland Cavaliers made their playoff push out of the All-Star break, and were trying to do so with Donovan Mitchell as well as James Harden in and out of the lineup. One player that fans have been eagerly waiting for is the fullback Max Struss.

Strus has been out of the Cavs lineup all season as he recovers from offseason surgery on his left foot to repair a Jones fracture. The Cavs guard underwent surgery back in August 2025 and was expected to return in three or four months, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported.

But seven months later, Strus has yet to return to court. On Tuesday, the Cavs gave an injury update on Strus:

Cavaliers guard/forward Max Struss continues to recover from offseason surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his left foot. Recent imaging has shown progressive healing, and in consultation with Dr. David Porter and team physician Dr. James Rosneck, Struss has transitioned to individual on-field workouts as part of a structured bulking program.

The program will include controlled team activities and workouts with the Cavaliers and the Cleveland Charge, the team’s NBA G League affiliate.

Strus will continue his rehabilitation and conditioning under the supervision of the Cavaliers’ medical and personnel staff, with ongoing evaluation. Further updates will be provided as needed.

Strus, who is set to turn 30 on March 28, is in the third year of a four-year, $63 million contract signed July 6, 2023. If he is able to return at some point in the final months of this season, the Cavs will have a lot of rotation pieces to figure out.

Max Struss started 70 games for 32 minutes a night for the Cavs in 2023-24, posting career averages of 12.2 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.0 assists.

Entering Tuesday’s slate of games, the Cleveland Cavaliers sit in the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference just 2.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for the second seed in the East.