Jon Scheyer says Caleb Foster will miss Thursday with an ankle injury, expected back for Duke’s opener vs. Army

Duke coach Jon Scheyer used ACC Tipoff to deliver the first notable update of the season, saying freshman Caleb Foster will not play on Thursday because of an ankle injury. The comment sets an early expectation for how quickly Duke can integrate one of its younger pieces as games begin to count toward the college basketball schedule.

Scheyer’s remarks also framed the absence as a short-term setback rather than a season-long detour. He said Foster is expected to return for the season opener against Army, an arrangement that would keep Duke’s rotation plan focused on building continuity early rather than reshuffling long-term around an injured player.

For Duke, the timing matters because the start of the season is typically when coaches finalize on-court lineups and establish roles, especially among newcomers. Scheyer’s comment that the next game would mean “more of the young guys” underscores that the staff still plans to lean on less-experienced players, even with Foster unavailable for at least one contest.

ACC Tipoff itself is usually the league’s early runway for discussing what teams expect to look like in conference play. By choosing to address Foster directly in that setting, Scheyer effectively mapped the near-term health picture to the team’s readiness timeline, with the opener versus Army serving as the milestone date for Foster’s return.

Still, an “expected back” timeline does not guarantee availability, particularly with ankle issues that can fluctuate from day to day. The next watch item is whether Duke provides additional clarification leading up to the opener, including whether Foster remains on track to play, limited minutes, or continues to be held out.

Beyond Foster’s individual status, the update influences how Duke approaches its early-season minutes distribution. If Foster sits, the coaching staff’s immediate evaluation will shift to whoever absorbs his responsibilities, and that can affect who earns trust in key stretches, even after the injured player is cleared.

For fans tracking Duke’s season trajectory, the practical takeaway is straightforward: Thursday’s lineup will be the first real test of Duke’s depth without Foster, and the opener against Army is the next concrete deadline for whether Duke gets him back as planned.