Kovar fractured clavicle in US Open Cup Quarterfinal

In the 61st minute of the Seattle Sounders US Open Cup matchup against the LA Galaxy, things were shaping up fairly well for Seattle as they defended a 2-1 lead. But as Aaron Kovar tracked back on an LA cross to do some of that defending, he collided hard with defender Oniel Fisher [video of incident], who didn’t appear to see his teammate coming. Kovar eventually left the field in obvious pain, and today he has taken to twitter to report that he suffered a fractured clavicle.

The Sounders have not commented on the injury, so an "official" expected timeline for the return of the homegrown player is not available. A clavicle (or collarbone) fracture can obviously vary in severity and doesn’t always require surgery, and an average person returns to normal activities after around three months, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Without knowing more about Kovar’s status it’s impossible to say if that’s an applicable timeline, but it’s not looking good for his chances to contribute on the pitch again in the near future.

The timing of this injury is unfortunate not just for the Sounders but for Kovar himself. The versatile mid/forward has been having his best season as a Sounder, with a career-high 15 MLS appearances and his first league goal (a beauty). Though he hasn’t lit up the stat sheet beyond that, his confidence and comfort on the field has been increasing, and his continued development has been a bright spot in a tough season.