The news isn't getting any better.
UPDATE (3:15 p.m. ET): The Blue Jackets announced Seth Jones will miss 4-to-6 weeks with a second-degree MCL sprain suffered Tuesday night. Jones had a MRI which revealed the injury.
From earlier:
There was a collective holding of the breath last night when the Blue Jackets announced Seth Jones left the Kraft Hockeyville game due to a lower body injury.
Blue Jackets head coach John Tortorella, appearing on 97.1 FM with Anthony Rothman and Bobby Carpenter on Wednesday afternoon, delivered a grim outlook for the All-Star defenseman.
Tortorella said Jones is "certainly not day-to-day" because of the injury, which he deemed a "freak" incident in the second period in Clinton, N.Y.
Already without Ryan Murray, also an unfortunate injury suffered in preseason action, Tortorella is now looking at starting the season without two top-four defensemen, after seeing Ian Cole and Jack Johnson depart over the summer.
"It's going to be a little while with (Jones)," Tortorella said.
Jones was among the NHL's best defensemen last season, scoring 16 goals and totaling 57 points. The Blue Jackets are hoping Zach Werenski, who will play in Friday's dress rehearsal game at Nationwide Arena vs. Pittsburgh, will be healthy to play in the season opener Oct. 4 in Detroit.
