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Chance Myers tore his Achilles tendon and will miss the remainder of the season. The Sporting Kansas City fullback was injured in the club's 2-2 draw against Toronto FC on Friday night and will need surgery to repair it.
Achilles tears normally require 6-9 months of recovery, which rules Myers out for this season. If it takes Myers the full nine months to recover, he may miss the beginning of next season as well.
Sporting have been beset by injury in recent weeks, and losing Graham Zusi and Matt Besler to World Cup duty hasn't helped, but losing Myers for the season is their biggest blow yet. Myers missed the beginning of this season with a groin injury and Kevin Ellis replaced him. Ellis will likely step in at right back for the remainder of this season, but he is a very large downgrade.
Myers gave the Sporting attack width, which it sometimes lacks, and did so without getting caught up too often and exposing the backline. Ellis is talented, but at 22 years old, is still inexperienced. He will have trouble balancing the ability to get forward and not leave the defense vulnerable, but he has five months to get it down pat before the MLS Cup Playoffs, when Sporting will be looking to repeat as champions.