Blue Jackets star Zach Werenski out for weeks with another injury after awkward collision

Often-injured Columbus Blue Jackets star defenseman Zach Werenski is looking at another potential long absence.

The Blue Jackets announced Friday he is week-to-week with an ankle injury and has been placed on the injured list.

He was injured in the second period Wednesday night. He had broken up a play by New Jersey Devils forward Ondřej Palát and was trying to move the puck up ice when their legs tangled awkwardly. Werenski appeared to twist his left ankle as he went down.

He tried to crawl to the bench before teammate Erik Gudbranson and a trainer helped him get to the dressing room. Werenski wasn't able to put pressure on his leg.

What is Zach Werenski's injury history?

Werenski was limited to 13 games last season after a shoulder injury required surgery. He missed 35 games between the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

He also was hurt in this season's opener after a knee-on-knee hit, but returned after missing two games.

Werenski remains the Blue Jackets' leader in ice time, assists and points entering Friday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Which other Blue Jackets players are injured?

Werenski joins a long list of injured Blue Jackets players.

The list includes captain Boone Jenner (broken jaw), forward Patrick Laine (broken clavicle) and defensemen Adam Boqvist (shoulder) and Nick Blankenburg (upper body).

Sean Kuraly, who collapsed behind the bench as he left the ice last week with an abdominal injury, is day-to-day. He told reporters Friday he caught the butt end of his stick in the rib area as he went into the boards and struggled to breathe, but learned quickly from paramedics that the injury wasn't serious.

Forward Jack Roslovic (broken ankle) was activated from the injured list Friday. He missed 21 games.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Zach Werenski injury update: Blue Jackets defenseman out week-to-week