Schuler, Watson-Siriboe could face extended sideline spell

Chris Schuler and Kwame Watson-Siriboe could be facing an extended spell on the sidelines, leaving Real Salt Lake in a precarious position at center back.

Both are being evaluated for their injuries; Schuler has been experiencing a stress response signal in his left foot, while Watson-Siriboe may have an ACL injury in his left knee. An update on both players is expected next week, according to Real Salt Lake Communications.

Should Schuler and Watson-Siriboe be out for an extended period, Real Salt Lake is left with only Nat Borchers, Carlos Salcedo, and Aaron Maund as options, and Borchers as the only one of the three to have seen extended time with any club, let alone Real Salt Lake.

Listen: Garth Lagerwey's ESPN 700 interview

In an interview with ESPN700 on the Bill and Hans Show, Real Salt Lake GM Garth Lagerwey said the club may have to dip into the soon-to-open transfer market to find replacement options.

"We've got some concerns right now with Kwame and Chris Schuler," he said. "If both of them were to be out for an extended period, we'd have to look at possibly some reinforcements. We obviously have a lot of confidence in Carlos Salcedo and in Aaron Maund to get a job done, but we'd have to look at our plan for the rest of the season at center back."

Lagerwey continued, noting that the international transfer window opens on July 9: "I think that we certainly have lists of players ready to go at (...) center back and outside back, depending on our situation. It's a jigsaw puzzle — you're looking for domestic options, trades within the league, foreign players from outside the league."

As such, Real Salt Lake will be bringing in further trialists to explore options, Lagerwey said.

"I strongly expect us to have some more trialists. We've had a number of players in with us over the past few weeks who are long-term plans, but in terms of short-term plans, guys coming in this summer, I think we'll have a lot more guys coming in early July."