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Nashville SC defender Nick DePuy out for 2023. Why coach Gary Smith has concerns about his trade

drake hills, nashville tennessean
·2 min read

Nick DePuy won't play for Nashville SC in 2023.

The center back underwent surgery last week on his Achilles' tendon, and the club announced Friday that it's listing Depuy on the Season-Ending Injury list.

DePuy's first season in Music City ends before it began. Nashville acquired him from the LA Galaxy in January and traded ironman center back Dave Romney to the New England Revolution for $525,000 in general allocation money (GAM), while simultaneously acquiring DePuy for $50,000 in GAM and a 2024 second-round SuperDraft pick.

What we know about Nick DePuy injury

Nick DePuy playing for the LA Galaxy in August 2022.
Nick DePuy playing for the LA Galaxy in August 2022.

Nashville coach Gary Smith spoke Thursday about the handling of DePuy's transfer.

"We haven't seen anything of Nick DePuy, who sadly had surgery on Friday to an Achilles problem – which is a completely different story, in regards to recruitment of that player and what went on in that deal, which I think player and club are very disappointed about."

The 28-year-old DePuy was held out of Nashville's preseason with a lingering calf injury. His health worsened and he didn't play in Nashville's first three games of the regular season.

DePuy hasn't played since Sept. 24, 2022, a six-minute cameo for the Galaxy against the San Jose Earthquakes. His last start was in August against New England. Overall in 2022, DePuy started 14 of 18 games played with the Galaxy.

What this means for Nashville SC

Nashville continues with starting center backs Walker Zimmerman and Jack Maher. Josh Bauer and newcomer Laurence Wyke back them up.

However, Zimmerman is expected to be called up to the U.S. men's national team for Concacaf Nations League games on March 24 and March 27, leaving Maher as the only central defender of the remaining trio who's played in MLS in 2022 or 2023.

Fortunately for Nashville, the club has just one game scheduled during that window, against FC Cincinnati on March 25.

For stories about Nashville SC or Soccer in Tennessee, contact Drake Hills at DHills@gannett.com. Follow Drake on Twitter at @LiveLifeDrake. Connect with Drake on Instagram at @drakehillssoccer and on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Nashville SC defender Nick Depuy out for season after Achilles surgery