What Brooks Lennon’s injury could mean for Atlanta United

Atlanta United fullback Brooks Lennon is scheduled to undergo surgery Thursday after suffering a dislocated shoulder in last week’s playoff match at Inter Miami. The injury surgery will end his season.

Interim manager Rob Valentino revealed the surgery schedule Thursday. Valentino didn’t have a prognosis for how long Lennon will be out or what the surgery will try to improve.

Atlanta United will host Miami in the second game of the best-of-three series at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Atlanta United must win to keep its season going. Game 3 would be in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on Nov. 9.

Lennon led the team in appearances (33), minutes (2,957) and assists (8) during the regular season.

Lennon suffered the injury during a duel with Diego Gomez in the first half of the match. As the two players fought for position, Lennon’s left arm was pulled back. He then landed on the shoulder.

Lennon’s injury could affect some of Atlanta United’s offseason plans, though the team has not said if it plans to trade Lennon.

ExploreMore AJC coverage of Atlanta United

With a guaranteed salary of $740,000, known production (34 assists in five seasons with the club) and a year plus another option year remaining on his contract, Lennon was one of the few tradable assets on Atlanta United’s roster as an important offseason looms that will include hiring a technical direction and manager and two possible Designated Player signings.

Ronald Hernandez, who typically played fullback when Lennon was unavailable, will be entering the final option year on his contract for the 2025 season. The only other right fullback on the roster is Homegrown signee Matthew Edwards.

Atlanta United could go into preseason camp in January without a veteran right fullback. The 2025 MLS season is scheduled to start in late February.

For more content about Atlanta United

Follow me on Twitter/X @DougRobersonAJC

On Facebook at Atlanta United News Now

On Instagram at DouglasDavidRoberson

Atlanta United coverage on The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Southern Fried Soccer podcast can be found

Apple — https://apple.co/3ISD6Ve

Spotify — https://spoti.fi/3L8TN0C

Google podcasts — https://bit.ly/32KlZW3

If you are going to listen to the podcast for the first time, please follow it on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts … and if you like what you hear, please give us a good rating so we can grow the show. If you have questions about the MLS team, you can email Doug Roberson at droberson@ajc.com, DM him on Twitter @dougrobersonajc or call 404-526-2527.

Stay up to date every day on breaking news, in-depth investigations, politics, sports, entertainment, food and dining and so much more by becoming a subscriber to the AJC. Go to AJC.com/start for a very special offer and unlock hundreds of original articles published daily on the refreshed AJC.com and the new AJC mobile app. Plus, access to our news alerts, subscriber-only events, AJC original shows, films and videos, newsletters, and so much more.

Atlanta United’s 2024 schedule

Feb. 24 Columbus 1, Atlanta United 0

March 9 Atlanta United 4, New England 1

March 17 Atlanta United 2, Orlando 0

March 23 Toronto 2, Atlanta United 0

March 31 Atlanta United 3, Chicago 0

April 6 Atlanta United 1, NYCFC 1

April 14 Atlanta United 2, Philadelphia 2

April 20 Cincinnati 2, Atlanta United 1

April 27 Atlanta United 1, Chicago 1

May 4 Minnesota 2, Atlanta United 1

May 7 Atlanta United 3, Charlotte Independence 0 in U.S. Open Cup