[MLS INJURY REPORT] Vancouver captain Jay DeMerit's season could be over after rupturing his Achilles tendon in the first seven minutes of the Whitecaps' season-opening 1-0 victory over Toronto FC on Saturday. He had played only one half of action in Vancouver’s eight preseason matches because of a nagging case of Achilles tendinitis.

The 33-year-old DeMerit, who had surgery on Monday, started 31 games in his second season with the 'Caps and helped lead them to their first appearance in the MLS Cup playoffs -- the first ever by a Canadian team.

The popular DeMerit was a member of the USA's 2010 World Cup team and the subject of the film "Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story," the story of his rise from obscurity to an EPL player with Watford.

American Brad Rusin, who was acquired in January from Danish club Koge, replaced DeMerit.

The 'Caps also signed 23-year-old Honduran central defender Johnny Leveron in February, and they hope he will be able to join the team shortly. Leveron has been training with the NASL's Carolina RailHawks while sorting out visa issues.

#RoadtoRecovery #GoCaps “@ashleighmcivor: He's awake! Surgery went well.lockerz.com/s/285996698”

— Jay DeMerit (@D6MERIT) March 5, 2013