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Dodgers catcher Will Smith is “unlikely” to come off the injured list when he becomes eligible on Friday, per Dodger Blue. Smith has been sidelined since June 6 with neck trouble that was initially described by manager Dave Roberts as stiffness, though Smith himself clarified it’s more of an inflammation issue. The original expectation was a straightforward return once the minimum IL stint expired — that’s no longer the case.

Smith has been one of the most durable and productive catchers in baseball since taking over behind the plate full-time in 2021. He’s a switch-hitter with real pop — a rarity at the position — and his presence in the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup is difficult to replicate. Neck inflammation for a catcher is particularly concerning because of the physical demands of the position: the constant crouching, the head movement tracking pitches, the throws down to second. This isn’t a tweak you can gut through without risking a setback, and the fact that the timeline is already sliding beyond the minimum stay tells me this is more than minor discomfort.

The initial diagnosis being softened by Roberts as “stiffness” before Smith himself called it inflammation is a detail worth filing away. That gap between the two descriptions suggested from the start that this might not be a quick in-and-out IL stint. Now we’re seeing that play out. There’s no specific return date being floated publicly, which usually means the club is taking a wait-and-see approach tied to how Smith responds to baseball activities rather than a fixed calendar target.

For the Dodgers, this extends what’s already been a significant absence at a premium position. The catching depth behind Smith has been functional but nowhere near what he provides offensively. We’ve managed to stay afloat during this stretch, but the longer Smith is out, the more it compounds — especially with the lineup already navigating other issues. Roberts has had to juggle plenty this season with various injuries across the roster, and this is another piece that isn’t falling back into place as quickly as anyone hoped.

I’ll be watching closely for any updates on whether Smith ramps up baseball activities in the coming days or if this stretches further into next week. The fact that they’re being cautious rather than pushing him back is probably the smart play, even if it stings in the short term. You don’t want a neck issue lingering into July and August when the games start counting double.

Source(s): Staff (Dodger Blue) | First reported: June 18, 2026 2:14 PM UTC

God Bless and Go Dodgers