With a swing of his right foot, Tyler Adams made an announcement to the world. He’d been gone for a long time, out of the spotlight and, for some, out of mind. But with that one kick of the ball, he left no doubt: he was back.
Back in the U.S. men’s national team fold, Adams’ thunderous strike gave his side a 1-0 lead over Mexico enroute to yet another CONCACAF Nations League triumph. He’s back for Bournemouth now as well, as he looks to propel himself back into the squad for his first real club minutes in nearly a year.
And it all comes at the perfect time. Adams’ return comes just months before the Copa America, where he’ll almost certainly be a key player for the USMNT. The U.S. captain at the 2022 World Cup, Adams, as the CONCACAF Nations League reminded us, is still one hell of a player, even when nowhere near full fitness.
He’ll have a few months to get closer to his peak, of course, with there still being plenty of games and benchmarks to hit before the Copa kicks off. The important thing for now, though, is that Adams is back and is ready to play.
-
GettyFalling out of sight
As a professional athlete, you’re never physically alone when you’re at the top. There are always teammates and fans and journalists surrounding you, building you towards whatever’s next. When you fall from that top, though, it’s really easy to feel isolated.
That’s what Adams experienced throughout his absence on the sidelines. It began in March 2023 with a hamstring injury that ruled him out through to the summer. During that time, he departed Leeds, relegated during his absence, to sign with Bournemouth. He’d have another crack at the Premier League when he returned to full fitness.
Then came the setback. In the fall, in his first game back, Adams suffered another hamstring injury, ruling him out for a long period once again.
“The rehab process was a long one and an enduring one,” he said on March 18. “You learn a lot about yourself in those tough moments, because, in those moments, there are no headlines about you. There are no people talking about you anymore. All of a sudden, you like fall off a cliff and you’re kind of irrelevant in that moment.
“For me, I kind of enjoyed that if, I’m being completely honest with you. After such a whirlwind of a season, after the World Cup, after everything, my world kind of flipped upside down for a brief moment. Being injured, I just had a moment to regroup.”
