Hot Take of the Week: Is the Archie Goodwin injury a crisis?

By Brian Maurer (@BAMaurerMedia)

Dean Smith told the media after training on Monday that Archie Goodwin ruptured a tendon in his foot, which would require surgery, and he would miss the rest of the season. This news sheds light on how thin Charlotte FC's depth now is at the striker position.

Smith mentioned that the club was looking at options both internally and externally. The only option available to the club externally is to sign a free agent, and they have until October 9 when the rosters freeze.

Internally, the most likely candidates are Tyger Smalls and Rodolfo Aloko, spending more time shifting centrally as depth options behind Idan Toklomati. Hugo Mbongue, who is Crown Legacy's leading goalscorer, could also earn a First Team contract.

Charlotte does have the option to put Goodwin on the Season Ending Injury (SEI) list,, which opens up his international roster spot, but the club will have to eat his cap hit, which is at least $360,000 based on his guaranteed salary reported on MLSPA. That is not including the transfer fee, which would also impact his dead cap hit.

While the club has the international spots available, signing an adequate replacement will come down to how much allocation money they have to replace Goodwin's dead cap hit if they move him to the SEI list.

Argument for the Goodwin injury being a crisis

1. Options on the free transfer market are limited.

2. Even if Charlotte signs a replacement before October 9, it is not likely they will be fit in time to help during the final stretch.

3. Dean Smith's options off the bench are dwindling, and one more injury or suspension away from being very limited come playoffs.

Argument against the Goodwin injury being a crisis

1. We are talking about the backup striker who has played fewer than 500 MLS minutes this season.

2. Rodolfo Aloko or Tyger Smalls as backup options behind Idan Toklomati are not going to feel like a major downgrade.

3. There are free agents available that could even end up feeling like an upgrade come playoff time.