D.C. United is in ‘survival of the fittest’ mode. For some, that’s been a struggle.

“There is definitely an adjustment period, which is still taking place, that maybe is taking a little bit longer than Hernán expected,” said defender Brendan Hines-Ike, in his first season with United after years in Belgium competing against Losada’s Beerschot team. “It’s not easy right now with the injuries. It makes the roster smaller and smaller each week, but we do have a lot of guys coming back, hopefully soon, which will be a big boost.”