Jordan Morris Back in Form for Sounders at Right Time
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Seattle Sounders forward Jordan Morris kicks the ball during a match against Minnesota United on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026 at Lumen Field in Seattle, Wash. (Alejandro Sanchez Ochoa / Sounders FC Communications) [/caption]
RENTON, Wash. — Jordan Morris had been dealt a tough hand these past two seasons.
The Seattle Sounders' all-time leading scorer played 34 games in 2024 before matching that total over nearly two complete seasons in 2025 and 2026. An AC joint separation last summer and multiple long injuries in 2026 have made the striker-turned-winger into an inconsistent presence for head coach Brian Schmetzer.
With reserve striker Danny Musovski bursting onto the scene last summer and star transfer Dejan Joveljić occupying the nine spot, Morris could've very well been phased out of the rotation.
But Schmetzer believed in what the veteran from Mercer Island still had to give, finding creative ways to insert him back into the lineup — the coach even benched a hot Musovski last summer to get Morris back on the pitch at striker after his shoulder injury.
Morris has, slowly, at times, paid Schmetzer's belief off with savvy moments inside the box and runs that stretch opposing lines. But small knocks have chipped away at his confidence, leading to performances that have fans in debate about his designated player salary being worth the hassle.
After all of that discourse, however, Morris has been able to string together his best stretch of games this season with Joveljić on international duty and Seattle's top winger options sidelined with injury. With Seattle (9-8-9, ninth in MLS Western Conference) fighting back into playoff positioning on a seven-game unbeaten streak, the advent of Joveljić, the sharp service of Albert Rusnák and the resurgence of Morris have taken center stage.
¡Qué pase! ¡Qué definición! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/QCLqt2egHq— Seattle Sounders FC (@SoundersFC) September 27, 2026
Morris punctuated his stretch of four high-impact showings with a true striker's goal on Saturday against Minnesota, hitting a one-touch shot off service from Albert Rusnák for a cross-goal beauty. It was finally a moment for that stat sheet to get Morris right.
“As a goal-scorer, that means a lot,” Morris said after training on Tuesday. “That’s what I thrive on, is scoring goals.”
At the heart of this solid stretch of physical form has been a change in match-week training.
Morris said he and the training staff have gone back to a plan reminiscent of years like 2024 when the forward was an iron man for Seattle. The plan involves tempering the physical toll on Morris by lightening his training load in the days before a match.
"Just trying to find all the little advantages that could help me get back to where I was before," Morris said. "Definitely feeling back to my old self, feeling confident, have that burst again… feeling healthy finally.
"Maybe (the new plan) will help with injury prevention as well."
Schmetzer, like Morris, thought back to 2024 and credited a quieter training session specifically two days before a game as a key to Morris looking explosive when the lights shine the brightest.
"He had built himself up (in 2024), and now, you know, this year again is a little different where the medical team… they've done a good job with Jordan, and he already knows the routine," Schmetzer said.
Morris has tabbed four starts in the last five matches, and has been a consistent force in demanding the ball and pushing the issue on the wing. In the 1-1 draw at the LA Galaxy on Sept. 12, Morris played a pivotal role in breaking LA down to build to Paul Arriola's 81st-minute equalizer, which he had the assist on.
In a game where both squads managed above-average xG, Morris was one of the leaders in getting into the opposing box, and he made four passes into the final third against Colorado in that thrilling 3-3 draw a game later (per FotMob). In limited minutes against RSL, he immediately put a shot on goal after subbing on and got dragged down near the endline with no penalty called, putting pressure on the visitors from the moment he stepped on the pitch.
Saturday may have been his most obviously impactful game, as Morris had the opening goal before putting a header on frame to force a rebound goal from Hassani Dotson. He had plenty of quieter moments in just getting to the end line and stretching the field, which Seattle will inevitably need to free Joveljić up centrally.
Considering the run of form Morris is in, Schmetzer was asked how close the Sounders staple is to his best-ever form — Morris scored 24 league goals over 2023 and 2024, for reference. He has two this season in more of a playmaking role at times.
"There's a little room for improvement… there's a little bit of sharpness inside the box," Schmetzer said, referencing Morris' 90-minute fitness. "Sometimes when your legs get a little heavy, your mind starts to wander. But he's close. He's getting close."
With Joveljić set to return from international duty ahead of a tough road trip at a hot New England team and FC Dallas, Morris should figure to be cemented on the wings going forward. He's played either side and has moved to striker when Musovski has been subbed off, looking dangerous regardless of his role.
Morris, set to turn 32 in October, is looking more and more like himself. He's shown an aptitude, and preference, at times, to find his teammates instead of taking shots himself since becoming a winger-striker hybrid.
But this run of games has shown that he still can do both, and feeling better physically has been a great help.
"What I bring to the game is trying to get in behind teams and use my speed," Morris said. "Having that confidence to go out there and feel good… I think is great — so definitely feeling that confidence."
At the end of the day, however, no player is injury-proof — especially one with the amount of miles Morris has at a high-contact position. But if he can be available with this type of confidence and lack of physical restrictions, he'll be vital in patching up some of the other injury issues the Sounders have been dealt.
Leading scorer Paul Rothrock is still likely out for the season on the left wing, while Jesús Ferreira has been in training but is likely a ways away. Both of those players bring different things than Morris, but if he can keep occupying teams with threatening runs, the Sounders' inconsistent offense could have a workable fix for a playoff run with Joveljić back at the helm starting next week.
Add to that the fact that Rusnák is now tied with stars like Lionel Messi for the league lead in assists with 11 (four in his last three games), and the Sounders offense is building toward something real.
Still, this homestand has been against some of the biggest strugglers in the Western Conference. Seattle will get a good chance to see where it stacks up on the road in New England and Dallas, with Kansas City still at issue at home on Thursday.
