The Portland Timbers have signed T2 defender Tyler Clegg and midfielder Victor Griffith to short-term agreements ahead of the team’s Round of 32 match in the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup against Real Salt Lake tonight, May 10, at Providence Park. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will be available to watch on the Bleacher Report App and B/R Football’s YouTube Channel.
Clegg, 23, made his first-team debut in the Timbers U.S. Open Cup match on April 26, a 3-1 win over Orange County SC at Providence Park. He earned a start and scored a goal in his 90-minute performance to help Portland advance in the tournament. Drafted by the Timbers in the third round (No. 85 overall) of the 2023 MLS Superdraft out of James Madison University, Clegg is one of three outfielders to have started every match of this MLS NEXT Pro season for T2.
Griffith, 22, made his first-team debut as a starter in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup match against LAFC on May 10, and tallied his second appearance for Portland in the April 26 3-1 victory over Orange County SC as a halftime substitute. The Panamanian international has made 24 appearances (all starts), tallying one assist for T2 in MLS NEXT Pro competition since joining the club ahead of the 2022 season.
Per MLS rules, a club may sign a player from its affiliate (MLS NEXT Pro or USL) to a maximum of four Short-Term Agreements (up to four-day contracts) each season (maximum of 16 days). An individual player may be included on up to four MLS league season match rosters each season. However, that player may appear in no more than two MLS league season matches. An individual player may appear in any number of non-league games during the terms of his four Short-Term Agreements.
Following the team’s May 10 U.S. Open Cup match, the Timbers will return to league play on Saturday, May 13, for a regular season match against Cascadia rival Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. (Pacific) and will be streamed live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish as well as local radio broadcasts, 750 The Game (English) and La GranD 1150AM/93.5 FM (Spanish).
