Just when it looked like Nicolás Lodeiro was nearing a return came news that he was again out, this time due to the so-called “health and safety protocols.” Lodeiro had trained with the Sounders on Tuesday in Seattle, but did not make the trip to Mexico, the team announced shortly before kickoff on Thursday.
While the “health and safety protocols” can indicate a number of things, it is most commonly associated with testing positive for Covid-19. Lodeiro also missed the early part of training camp a few months ago while clearing similar protocols upon his return from Uruguay.