SAN JOSE — Projected starter Harold Cummings has been lost for the season without even playing one game for the Earthquakes.

San Jose officials had announced the Panamanian international defender would return in the second half of the MLS season after undergoing surgery in March to repair a fractured fibula and a high ankle sprain from an accident at his home in San Jose.

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San Jose Earthquakes have no answer in another bad defeat to LAFC But game notes Wednesday for the Quakes-Orlando City SC match listed Cummings as out for the season. A team spokeswoman confirmed the situation.

Cummings, 25, was considered a big acquisition at center back when signing Jan. 7. But the Quakes have found a solution in central defense German newcomer Florian Jungwirth blossoming into one of the team’s best players although not in his normal position.

The Quakes (4-4-3) opened the midweek game without reserve midfielder Shea Salinas, who is out with a knee injury. Another midfielder, Marc Pelosi, has been out all season with knee problems, and coach Dominic Kinnear doesn’t know when the promising player from Sunnyvale might return.