We knew Jordan Morris was set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines, but the exact timetable of recovery has been unclear. Until now, that is.
Morris told the Fox broadcast during Sunday’s game between the Seattle Sounders and Atlanta United that he thinks he will be out most if not all of the 2021 season. The Sounders and U.S. Men’s National Team attacker tore his left ACL in February and is in the midst of his rehabilitation.
“It is pretty similar to the last one. Eight to 10 months is what they are saying and it is going well so far,” Morris said on the Fox broadcast. “It is definitely a grind and frustrating at points. It is getting a bit better and it is just a lot of rehabbing.”
👋 @JmoSmooth13 pic.twitter.com/zDfRYvaa5V
— FOX Soccer (@FOXSoccer) May 23, 2021
The experienced winger tore his ACL for the second time in his career in February while on loan at Swansea City in England’s Championship and had surgery on Feb. 20. He previously tore the ACL in his other leg in February 2018, missing the entire MLS season that year before returning in 2019 and claiming the league’s Comeback Player of the Year award after scoring 10 goals in an MLS Cup-winning campaign for the Sounders.
If Morris can return to full health within eight months of suffering this latest injury, he could be back just in time for some of the USMNT’s World Cup Qualifiers later this year.
“I think there is definitely an itch to come back quick, but obviously I am not going to rush anything and see how things go down the line,” Morris said. “It is still pretty early on, but obviously there are some important games. I think that itch is definitely there but the most important thing is getting it right before you come back.”
The Sounders have struggled mightily with injuries in 2021. In addition to Morris, the Sounders are currently without Nicolas Lodeiro, Jordy Delem and Stefan Frei due to injury. Regardless, the Sounders are on top of the Western Conference table and have yet to lose a match.
“It has been great,” Morris said. “The mentality of this team is unbelievable. You see guys step into positions and just fill in like there is no change. This new formation is working really well. I think it puts a lot of guys in their best positions.”
Really feel for him. Its a dream-crusher. This likely iced his hopes in Europe and perhaps the WC too. Professional sports- can be pretty ruthless but, that said….. these are luxurious problems… getting to make a good paying living playing at something isn’t too bad a and compared to most.
This makes me feel like the Holden injuries made me feel. Such a shame.
It’s a tragedy that Morris will likely never get to test himself in Europe and is likely going to be surpassed by younger players in the USMNT. To me Morris was always under rated. Played hard every game, knew what his strengths were and played to them, and he’s a winner. Kind of a throw back to players we used to have.
How is this news? 9-12 months is pretty typical for an ACL repair. Especially the second one. Morris was never going to be a regular in the NT. I don’t know why we give him so much attention.
Morris’s injury was always going to put his inclusion in WCQ and even the WC at risk. With the advancement of many of our younger players (Reyna, Weah, LDT, etc…) Morris’s position in the team was already being affected….and as they mature his roll will be reduced even more.
Long is in the same situation. This cycle was likely to be there 1 and only shot at being part of a WC. Now both are likely to miss the window.
on the most optimistic timetable he would be returning to training in october, by the most pessimistic, december. realistically he won’t play this year’s qualifiers. he would have minimal or no leagyue play by november, and i would be curious if seattle shuts him down for the year to be safe. i cannot imagine we just test the knee in NT quali ball. so, next year. considering MLS doesn’t re-start until around spring i could even see him left off for the last of quali, since he would have little time for game minutes before quali concludes march 2021. realistically, his involvement, if any, would be in 2021 friendlies and/or the world cup itself. which, that’s going to be harsh because he’ll have to fight into a regular squad that will play together for months.
same story for long. i like both as players but this is awful timing to get seriously hurt.