The Portland Trail Blazers have been dealt a major injury blow with Shaedon Sharpe expected to miss six months after suffering a torn meniscus in his knee.

The 23-year-old guard faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

A six-month recovery timetable would keep Sharpe out for a significant portion of the upcoming NBA season.

A huge blow for Portland

Losing Sharpe is a major setback for a Trail Blazers team preparing for the new season.

Sharpe averaged 20.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 2.6 assists across 50 regular-season appearances in 2025-26, establishing himself as one of Portland's most important offensive players.

He also shot 45.2% from the field while averaging 29.4 minutes per game.

Now Portland will have to begin the season without one of its leading scorers.

Another injury setback for Sharpe

Sharpe's latest injury follows an already disrupted 2025-26 season.

He missed time earlier in the year with a left calf strain before follow-up imaging revealed a stress reaction in his left fibula.

That injury kept him sidelined during an important stretch of Portland's season.

Sharpe has also dealt with injury problems earlier in his NBA career, including shoulder and core muscle issues.

A torn meniscus and an expected six-month absence now represents another significant setback.

What does Portland do without Sharpe?

The timing creates an immediate problem for the Trail Blazers.

Portland has considerable depth in the backcourt, but replacing Sharpe's scoring production won't be straightforward.

The Trail Blazers have added Ja Morant this offseason, while Damian Lillard is expected to return following his own lengthy injury rehabilitation.

Jrue Holiday and Scoot Henderson also give Portland options in the backcourt.

Sharpe, however, offers something different with his athleticism and ability to score.

His absence could create considerably larger roles for Portland's other guards while the team waits for his return.

Six-month timetable puts return well into the season

The biggest concern now is the length of Sharpe's recovery.

An expected six-month absence would take his rehabilitation well into the 2026-27 regular season.

Portland will undoubtedly be cautious with a player who only turned 23 in May and remains an important part of the franchise's future.

For now, the priority will simply be getting Sharpe healthy again.

For the Trail Blazers, though, losing one of last season's leading scorers before the new campaign has even begun is a brutal way to start.