D.C. United defender Steven Birnbaum out until June after ankle surgery

Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty ImagesD.C. United announced today that center back Steven Birnbaum will be out for 12-15 weeks after ankle surgery.

Birnbaum, 30, missed the final eight games of the 2020 season due to ankle trouble, and he had an initial procedure on his ankle two months ago, with the aim of having him back at full fitness by the end of the preseason. However, citing a need “to decompress nerves and remove part of the talus bone with chronic inflammation,” Birnbaum underwent this second surgery in Green Bay, WI sometime last week.

Unfortunately I had to have a second procedure on my ankle. Surgery went well! Looking forward to a speedy recovery and getting back on the field with…