United, which is one point out of the sixth and final playoff spot in MLS’s Eastern Conference, has six matches left. For sure, Franklin will sit out Friday’s trip to Chicago and the Sept. 24 home match against Orlando City. The subsequent games against the Columbus Crew and Toronto FC are also in question. The club hopes to have him at full strength for the stretch run next month.

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“The calf is tricky,” Olsen said, “but we’ll just move him along and get him back as quickly as possible.”

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Franklin, in his third season in Washington after six with the Los Angeles Galaxy, entered last weekend having played 2,385 of 2,430 minutes this year. The only break came in the second half of a mid-week match at Montreal three weeks ago.

Luke Mishu, a second-year pro with four career starts in league play, is the top candidate to replace Franklin. He stepped in Sunday and had a role in United’s startling comeback from a two-goal deficit, volleying a shot that ultimately led to the equalizer deep in stoppage time at Red Bull Arena. Mishu did not fare as well 10 days earlier: Starting at left back in place of injured Taylor Kemp, his poor back pass from midfield led to a New York City FC breakaway and goal at Yankee Stadium.

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Olsen could also shift center back Steve Birnbaum to the right or summon reserve Jalen Robinson, a center back who has played wide at times when on loan to the third-division Richmond Kickers.

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United is thin in the back because Chris Korb, who started 96 matches in wide positions the previous five years, has missed the entire season recovering from a knee injury suffered last summer. He underwent a second procedure last month and isn’t expected back anytime soon.

More recently, center back Kofi Opare was sidelined with a concussion after taking a shot to the head in training. He has not been cleared to resume workouts.

Midfielder Jared Jeffrey also remains sidelined with a concussion, suffered when he was elbowed in the head during a match against Chicago on Aug. 27.

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“I don’t want to sit around and talk about injuries. We’re fine. We’ve got players to win games,” Olsen said. “Certainly, we will continue to have attacking threats and get looks. We’ll continue to try to get back to putting shutouts on the board. It’s a great opportunity for us to go to Chicago and get something out of the game.”

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United (7-9-12) has 33 points, one fewer than Orlando City and the same as the New England Revolution, which has played one additional match. Besides scrambling for the last playoff slot, all three teams are bearing down on fifth-place Montreal (38 points), which is in a 1-3-2 rut.