MLS injury report: Raul Ruidiaz out, Willy Agada returns to the sidelines

The 2023 Major League Soccer season has seen several players fail to adjust to a busy calendar.

Teams have been plagued by injuries, forcing coaches to readjust and strengthen rosters ahead of the Primary Transfer window deadline on April 24. Though some are not new injuries, as Willy Agada and Raul Ruidiaz return to the sidelines to nurse old wounds, while Henry Kessler faces four months away after undergoing surgery.

Here's the injury report ahead of Matchday 9...

1. Henry Kessler out for four months

New England Revolution player Henry Kessler will be out for four months after undergoing successful surgery for a right hamstring injury.

The center back could return mid-August, following the team’s participation in Leagues Cup. He could feature for the Revolution in the tail end of the 2023 MLS season, and potentially the playoffs if the team qualifies. 

Kessler first joined the team in 2020, coming in as the number six overall pick of the MLS SuperDraft. He’s become a staple under head coach Bruce Arena, recording four goals in 79 regular-season appearances. 

For now, Arena is expected to lean on Dave Romney and Andrew Farrell in the backline. Though Omar Gonzalez and Christian Makoun can step up, if needed.

2. Raul Ruidiaz out again

Seattle Sounders figure Raul Ruidiaz will be out for several weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during the 4-1 loss against the Portland Timbers on April 15.

The player picked up the strain to his right hamstring following his goal against the Western Conference rivals, exiting the field in the 83rd minute with discomfort. Ruidiaz then underwent an MRI scan on Thursday that revealed the extent of the injury, setting the recovery timeline for late May. 

"He will be out for about four weeks, maybe five," head coach Brian Schmetzer said. "He does have a strained right hamstring. It wasn’t good news, and I feel for him, because he’d scored two goals and was back in a good run of form, so it was bad news yesterday."

3. Willy Agada returns to the sidelines

Sporting Kansas City player Willy Agada will be out once again. 

The striker faces a second spell on the sidelines after a stress fracture was found in his leg. The player is now expected to undergo surgery in the coming days, which will then determine an accurate recovery timeline. 

The player managed to feature for SKC in preseason matches, coming back from a 2022 injury. But he shouldn’t have been on the field, as head coach Peter Vermes revealed he had been unknowingly playing through the injury. 

It's just the latest setback for the Western Conference team, who had to balance several injuries throughout the 2022 campaign.