Jaren Jackson Jr. said he was “sad” when he learned of the Steven Adams injury news Sunday, but the vibes are still filled with optimism.

The Memphis Grizzlies announced Adams will undergo season-ending surgery on his right PCL. He is expected to make a full recovery ahead of next season.

The Grizzlies played without Adam’s in 40 regular season games last season, so there’s a sample size of what Memphis has to do in his absence. At the top of that list is rebounding, an area Memphis went from one of the NBA’s top teams with Adams to the middle of the pack after his injury.

"You're not going to replace him," Grizzlies coach Taylor Jenkins said after practice on Monday. "We understand that, but we all got to take that onus knowing that if that's winning basketball and we got to (rebound) at an elite level, we can do it collectively. too."

Jackson, Santi Aldama, Xavier Tillman Sr. and Kenneth Lofton Jr. are among the players expected to fill the rebounding void. In the case of Jackson, it was already something he was emphasizing in his game.

Jackson’s rebounding was scrutinized over the summer when he played in the FIBA World Cup as Team USA’s starting center. He vowed on Grizzlies media day to improve this season. He doubled down on that notion Monday.

"I got to (rebound) even more, like way more," Jackson said. "I got to be way better just in terms of that end of the floor. That's something he is the best in the world at. I already had to do that better with him on the floor, and I gottr to do it even better with him not on the floor."

Memphis could opt to add another center to its roster. One option is picking up a 16th roster spot after the first five games of Ja Morant's suspension. The Grizzlies can place Morant on the suspension exempt list and sign a free agent until Morant's suspension ends.

"I'm working with Zach (Kleiman) on that," Jenkins said. "There is more to come, for sure. We are having great dialogues right now, you know, with the newness of the news over the weekend. We will sit down and process where this team is at and how we can move forward."

The Grizzlies will open the season on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans. While it hasn’t been announced, Tillman is the likely option to fill in as the starting center.

Memphis went 18-11 when Tillman started at center last season.

HOT TOPICS: Ja Morant is suspended. Steven Adams is hurt. Can the Memphis Grizzlies still contend?

This article originally appeared on Memphis Commercial Appeal: Memphis Grizzlies react to Steven Adams injury news