Portland Timbers’ Darlington Nagbe Out 2-4 Weeks With Sports Hernia

Hopes are high as the Portland Timbers get ready for their first MLS season. Just about three weeks before their first match, though, they’ve received some bad news: No. 2 overall SuperDraft pick Darlington Nagbe will undergo surgery for a sports hernia and likely miss 2-4 weeks as he recovers. Nagbe was largely believed to be in line for starters’ minutes, and has earned consistently high praise from Timbers coach John Spencer.

Nagbe could still, theoretically, be ready in time for the Timbers’ first match on March 19. Considering he won’t be able to practice at full speed for at least another two weeks, though, that seems like a stretch.