Patrick Williams is sidelined again with pain in the same foot -- but Bulls aren't panicking yet

MILWAUKEE — Patrick Williams is sidelined again with pain in the same foot that ended his 2023-24 season — but the Chicago Bulls aren’t panicking just yet.

After experiencing soreness in his left foot, the fifth-year forward returned to Chicago after Monday’s road win against the Detroit Pistons while the rest of the team traveled to Milwaukee for Wednesday’s game against the Bucks. Williams underwent scans in Chicago on Wednesday, although the team emphasized the tests were precautionary.

The Bulls listed Williams on the injury report Monday, but he played and finished with eight points and five rebounds in 31 minutes in the 122-112 win. At the time, Williams and coach Billy Donovan downplayed the soreness.

The team will continue to exercise caution with Williams after he underwent surgery in March to treat a bone edema — which was diagnosed in January — in the same foot. Before the injury, Williams had been averaging 10 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 43 games.

Williams did not play any five-on-five basketball over the summer and was severely restricted throughout training camp, which limited his availability into the preseason. Wednesday marks the third of five games in a seven-day stretch for the Bulls. Donovan previously has said the Bulls are load managing some players, including point guard Josh Giddey, as they navigate a brutal stretch of the schedule.

Before the foot pain reemerged, Williams had been showing signs of growth offensively, averaging 11.2 points and 4.6 rebounds in November. He scored a season-high 18 points in a win against the New York Knicks that reflected the promise the Bulls have been attempting to unlock from Williams since his rookie year.

The Bulls will face the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo — who is averaging 32 points in November — without their primary big defender. Backup forward Torrey Craig will likely shoulder the assignment despite playing only 17 minutes across three games this season.