This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
The collision between Real Salt Lake's two center backs Sunday afternoon in Southern California could change the landscape of how the club finishes out the remainder of the 2014 season — and potentially beyond into the postseason.
Defender Chris Schuler is out for Saturday's match against the San Jose Earthquakes. Or as coach Jeff Cassar likes to put it, "It doesn't look good for Chris for this weekend." That's what Cassar told ESPN700's Bill Riley Tuesday afternoon on his weekly appearance on the radio show. Schuler likely suffered fractures in his orbital bones in his face in his collision with Nat Borchers Sunday at Chivas USA, Cassar said, leaving the proper timetable of full diagnosis anywhere from 7-to-10 days.
To make matters worse for Schuler and RSL, Cassar said required surgery is likely. If that's the case and depending on the severity of the diagnosis and surgery, the remainder of Schuler's year could be up in the air. Cassar, as noted by a team spokesman Monday, added that Schuler is in the process of seeing specialists. When the diagnosis and proper course of action becomes clear remains unknown.
The injury to Schuler, coupled with RSL being severely short-staffed due to international call-ups, means Carlos Salcedo will be back in Salt Lake City later this week. The 21-year-old defender was called into Mexico's U-21 camp for the fourth time this season, but as Cassar noted on ESPN700 Tuesday, Salcedo spoke to his coach in Mexico about the situation at RSL and is expected to be back Thursday for training.
Will have more updates on Schuler likely after training tomorrow.
-Chris Kamrani
Twitter: @chriskamrani