Jeremy Lin may get some more playing time on the Los Angeles Lakers squad in light of shooting guard Nick Young's recent injury. Young is expected to have surgery for a torn ligament in his thumb today and may need to spend about six to eight weeks in recovery thereafter, leaving the backup position for Kobe Bryant wide open.

Young was scrimmaging alongside Jeremy Lin on the second-string during last week's training camp, and was expected to have considerable playing time as a shooting guard behind Kobe Bryant this year after averaging 17.9 points per game in the 2013-14 season. Young tore a ligament in his right thumb after hitting Kobe Bryant's elbow during Friday's 5-on-5 scrimmage, however, and will likely have to sit out for the first two weeks of the 2014-15 season while he recovers from surgery.

Lin, who averaged 12.5 points per game and had a 35.8% three-point shooting percentage last year, had played at the one, two, and three positions for the Houston Rockets in seasons past. He is expected to be the second-string point guard for the Lakers behind veteran player Steve Nash, but might get some additional time on the floor playing at shooting guard in Young's stead.

Kobe Bryant might also play more minutes in his backup's absence, or Jordan Clarkson, Ronnie Price, and Wayne Ellington could also potentially take Young's spot to relieve him. If Lin were to fill in for Young as the backup shooting guard, then a recovering and soon-to-be retired Steve Nash might need to play extended minutes as well.

The Lakers will face the Denver Nuggets in a pre-season game at 7:00 p.m. PDT tonight.