Midfielder Tyler Adams on Monday withdrew from the U.S. national soccer team ahead of training camp, one day after a frightening head-to-head collision with a teammate during a Premier League match.
Adams was scheduled to join the national team in Philadelphia on Monday for the last camp of the year, but because of the injury, he remained in England for further evaluation and recovery.
The U.S. Soccer Federation referred questions about Adams’ injury to his club, AFC Bournemouth, which did not immediately comment.
Columbus Crew midfielder Sean Zawadzki, a U.S. reserve, also withdrew because of a right knee injury suffered in the MLS playoff match against Cincinnati on Saturday.
Los Angeles FC midfielder Timmy Tillman (one U.S. appearance) was added to Mauricio Pochettino’s squad, which will play friendlies against Paraguay on Saturday in Chester, Pennsylvania, and Uruguay on Nov. 18 in Tampa.
Adams, a regular starter the past two World Cup cycles, will miss his second consecutive camp. Last month he remained home to be with his pregnant wife.
On Sunday, Adams collided with teammate Adam Smith in the opening minutes of a 4-0 away loss to Aston Villa in Birmingham, England. Medical personnel rushed onto the field to attend to the players. Bloodied and concussed, Smith wasn’t able to continue. Adams returned to play the rest of the match.
Adams joins a long list of notable players absent from U.S. camp for a variety of reasons, including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, Chris Richards, Tim Weah and Antonee Robinson.
After this camp, the Americans will not regather until late March — the final assembly before Pochettino names his 26-man World Cup roster in late May.
