Grizzlies' Conley expected to miss 6 weeks with vertebrae fracture

Memphis Grizzlies point guard Mike Conley is expected to miss six weeks of action due to a transverse process fracture in the vertebrae, according to Grizzlies.com's Michael Wallace.

Conley suffered what was believed to be a back injury in Monday's loss to the Charlotte Hornets, departing the contest after a collision with Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

He'll be re-evaluated in a month, reports Wallace.

It's a devastating blow for Conley and the Grizzlies, who have fought to stay healthy over the last few seasons. In the 2015 playoffs, the point guard was knocked out of action and hospitalized after suffering a facial fracture.

The transverse process is a bony protrusion, and there are two on the back of each vertebrae. Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton suffered a similar injury in a 2014 car accident and missed one week of action.

The Grizzlies, who were granted two hardship exceptions last season over the course of a campaign that saw them roster an NBA-record 28 players, could be eligible to apply for an exception Dec. 3, according to The Vertical's Bobby Marks. The 2015-16 Grizzlies lost more than 300 man games to injury.