Pittsburgh Penguins Suffer Unfortunate Setback as Key Defenseman Sidelined 8 Weeks

The Pittsburgh Penguins will be without defenseman Caleb Jones for six to eight weeks due to a lower-body injury, the hockey club announced on Saturday morning ahead of tonight's game against the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Jones suffered the injury in the third period of Thursday night's game against the defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers, after getting into a battle with pesky forward Brad Marchand in the 5-3 Penguins win.

The 28-year-old signed a two-year contract in Pittsburgh with an average annual value of $900,000 before the 2025-26 campaign, and started the 2025-26 season with an assist in seven games, while averaging 17:10 of ice time per night.

Jones spent the 2024-25 season with the Los Angeles Kings organization, where he played in just six NHL games, spending most of the year with the AHL's Ontario Reign. There, he scored two goals and 21 points in 44 games.

With his absence, the Penguins will have to look further down their defensive depth, as they hope to continue a strong start to the season, entering a Saturday clash against Columbus.

The Penguins sit in third place in the Metropolitan Division with six wins and two losses through their first eight games, far exceeding expectations.

Should Jones be out for the entire eight weeks, his return could see him miss roughly 24 games; however, he could potentially return before the NHL's brief Christmas break for a Dec. 20 contest against the Montreal Canadiens.