Washington, DC -- United lose Namoff for three-to-four weeks

D.C. United defender Bryan Namoff will be out for another three or four weeks due to a fractured rib suffered during the preseason.

The veteran defender has not played in any of United's MLS games this season. He will now be forced to miss around another month of action.

"While we are disappointed with the news, we are confident Bryan will soon be back to the form we've been accustomed to in recent years," United technical director Dave Kasper said.

D.C. will surely miss Namoff's presence on the defensive end of the field. The 25-year-old has been a mainstay for D.C. the past few years, starting 49 of the team's last 66 MLS matches, including five of six playoff games. Namoff was an integral part of United's MLS Cup triumph last season.

D.C. has won just once in its first three games this season. It was also eliminated from the CONCACAF Champions Cup by Harbor View Jamaica.

Namoff did play in both legs against Harbor View. He fought through the second leg with the injury, which was just exposed after he underwent further tests following the second leg last week.