When it rains it pours for these embattled Portland Timbers currently experiencing a number of its most important players out on the Injured List. Adding to the list is the injury of midfielder Eryk Williamson that complicates more the panorama for the 2023 campaign.
With Eryk Williamson suffering his second ACL tear in just 20 months, the panorama looks very grim for the Rose City side as his return will be around January of 2024. As the surgery for Williamson being scheduled for Wednesday, this is his second time he tore his left ACL back in August 2021.
“Eryk is an extremely important component within the team who was performing at a high level again, making it difficult news to accept,” Timbers general manager Ned Grabavoy said in a release.
“We will support Eryk both on and off the field during his recovery process, and we are confident that he will make a full recovery in reestablishing himself within the team again next season.”
Williamson, after missing Portland’s run to hosting MLS Cup 2021 presented by Audi with his first torn ACL, returned early in the 2022 campaign. When fit, he’s often a written-in-pen starter alongside club captain Diego Chara.
For his MLS career, Williamson has four goals and 17 assists in 70 games (50 starts). He’s played six times for the US men’s national team and was in line to possibly feature at this summer’s Concacaf Nations League or Concacaf Gold Cup.
Williamson injury comes when all of the Timbers most important players are out with Yimmi Chara, Sebastian Blanco, and Felipe Mora. In addition of David Ayala recently recovered and Cristhian Paredes these being the back up for Eryk Williamson in the defensive backfield.
Through Matchday 7, the Timbers are 12th in the Western Conference table with a 1W-4L-2D record.
Source: Portland Timbers Communications
Portland Timbers
