Seattle Sounders defender Jhon Kennedy Hurtado has been placed on the injury reserve after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament.

The Colombian will require surgery and is expected to be out for at least six weeks in a major loss for the club.

"It's a big loss," general manager Adrian Hanauer said. "Jhon Kennedy has been a solid defender for us for a year and a half now and a great individual on the team. So we're definitely shattered to lose Jhon and his presence on the team, his one-on-one defending, his quality.

"But we're deep at center back. Obviously having signed Jeff Parke now will provide some additional cover and quality there and we will move on. There are injuries in soccer, in sports. We can't hang our heads and worry about it now. We have to go forward and make the best of a bad situation."