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Frank Jackson becomes ninth Detroit Piston to enter NBA health and safety protocols

MEMPHIS, Tennessee — Detroit Pistons guard Frank Jackson entered the NBA's health and safety protocols on Thursday, becoming the ninth player on the roster to do so this season.

Jackson had missed Detroit's previous three games with a lateral sprain in his right ankle, and will now miss additional time.

ABOUT LAST NIGHT: Pistons stung, 140-111, by Hornets' scorching shooting night in Charlotte

The news comes during the same week the Pistons saw their previous eight players in protocols return to action in some capacity. Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes, Saben Lee, Trey Lyles, Josh Jackson and Rodney McGruder have all rejoined the Pistons during their road trip. Cory Joseph is back in Detroit, working out at their practice facility. The Pistons also had members of the coaching staff test positive.

Detroit Pistons guard Frank Jackson gets a rebound during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena, Dec. 29, 2021.
Detroit Pistons guard Frank Jackson gets a rebound during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Little Caesars Arena, Dec. 29, 2021.

Stewart and Joseph were Detroit's final two players of the eight to exit protocols on Tuesday, but Dwane Casey acknowledged before their 140-111 loss to the Charlotte Hornets that the team could continue to deal with positive tests.

"It doesn't guarantee things don't come around again," Casey said. "This virus thing is crazy. Hopefully we're safe and take care of ourselves. Hopefully we can handle it again."

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here's how you can gain access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' Frank Jackson enters health and safety protocols