The Bulls will likely be without center Wendell Carter Jr. for an extended period of time.

The rookie sustained a thumb injury in a game versus the Lakers on Jan. 15 and is now expected to undergo surgery, the team announced Friday. The anticipated recovery is eight to 12 weeks.

The news comes as Chicago continues to struggle. The Bulls are on a nine-game losing skid and have fallen to 10-35 on the season.

Carter, the seventh overall pick in the 2018 draft, started every game for the Bulls this season before his injury. He's averaged 10.3 points and 7.0 rebounds and was shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 18.8 percent from 3-point range.