Practice Report: Batum (concussion) will not play Wednesday vs. Utah, eager to return

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Nicolas Batum is progressing in his recovery from a concussion suffered on October 8th but he will not be able to play in Portland’s next game, as he has not been cleared to do so just yet. Terry Stotts said that Batum was cleared for non-contact practice, shooting and exercise.

Batum will be making the trip with the team and hopes to participate in a full contact practice on Thursday. A full contact practice is the final step before he can be cleared to play again and Batum said he is shooting for a return to the court on Friday against the Clippers in Los Angeles.

Batum is eager to return to the court.

“I miss it. To watch those guys keep working and working so hard to be ready for the season, so it’s kind of frustrating to be on the sideline watching for more than a week now,” he said. “So I really want to be back on the court with them.

Meyers Leonard “somewhat limited,” McCollum “out east”

Meyers Leonard was limited once again in Blazers practice. Stotts that Leonard was able to participate in half court drills in practice. Leonard (right foot strain) missed the last game against the Jazz in Boise.

Rookie CJ McCollum, who broke the fifth metatarsal in his left foot, the same bone he broke in college, flew “out east” with Portland’s new Director of Player Health and Performance Chris Stackpole. McCollum told the media on October 6th he would seek the second opinion of two doctors and one of them was based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Stotts said that the Blazers would have an update on McCollum “later.”