Jay DeMerit's season might be over before it ever really began.
Vancouver's captain could be ruled out for the remainder of the 2013 campaign after suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon in the Whitecaps' season-opening win over Toronto FC on Saturday, according Marc Weber of TheProvince. DeMerit sustained the knock in the seventh minute of the Whitecaps' 1-0 win and had to helped off the field by team trainers before being replaced by newcomer Brad Rusin.
A Whitecaps spokesperson did not confirm the severity of the injury on Monday, but did MLSsoccer.com that the club's medical team has been consulted and they expect to release an update shortly.
The 33-year-old, who was limited in preseason due to Achilles tendinitis, will reportedly have surgery and is expected to be in a boot cast for four to six weeks. A common timeframe for recovery is six to eight months, which leaves his availability for the rest of the year in doubt.
DeMerit, who is in the last year of a three-year deal with the 'Caps, was an MLS All-Star defender in 2012. He started each of the 31 games he played in for Vancouver last season, contributing a goal and assist while helping lead the club to its first MLS postseason berth in franchise history.
Vancouver return to action on March 9 when they host the Columbus Crew.
