Last season, the Columbus Crew dealt with a rash of injuries and it was reflected in the team’s play. The coaches and players had no issue talking about it because it was obvious why the team struggled; it was a reason, not an excuse.
In 2020, the Crew has taken a different approach. While the injuries haven’t been as numerous, they have been arguably more impactful. The Black & Gold lost center back Vito Wormgoor for the year in just the third game of the regular season. Attacking midfielder Lucas Zelarayan has missed seven games with various injuries and central midfielder Darlington Nagbe has been out since early September with a knee issue, forcing him to sit out eight matches.