USMNT, Nashville SC defender Walker Zimmerman suffers scary injury in Charlotte | OneFootball

Nashville SC captain and U.S. men's national team defender Walker Zimmerman left Saturday's 2-1 defeat at Charlotte FC on a cart after a scary collision with Charlotte's Kerwin Vargas.

Nashville manager B.J. Callaghan said postgame that Zimmerman had been taken to a local hospital, and that he was stable and responsive as he left the game.

The incident occurred at the 71-minute mark of Saturday's contest on a cross played from the right flank. Vargas attempted a bicycle kick of the cross which was sailing slightly behind his body just outside the 6-yard box. Meanwhile Zimmerman looked to be attempting to head the ball clear.

The result was an outstretched leg that may have contacted Zimmerman in the head and neck area. Zimmerman appeared to lose consciousness as he fell to the turf, and his teammates immediately motioned for medical assistance to come onto the field.

A total of about seven minutes passed while medical personnel appeared to immobilize Zimmerman, placed him on a cart and transported him off the field.

To add insult to injury, Zimmerman left the field with the Coyotes holding a 1-0 advantage. But Wilfried Zaha leveled from the penalty spot in the 85th minute and then Idan Toklomati scored a 90th-minute winner for Charlotte.

Model of consistency

Prior to Saturday's match, the 31-year-old Zimmerman had played every minute this season for Nashville, which had bolted out to a 3-1-2 start under new manager B.J. Callaghan. He's in his 13th MLS campaign and sixth for the Coyoters.

Zimmerman has also been a regular part of the U.S. men's national team over most of his pro career, and played in all four matches for former manager Gregg Berhalter's side at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

His most recent USMNT caps came in Janaury, when he played in friendly victories over Costa and Venezuela.