Armao departs LYON as Inspired expected to return to LCS lineup

With only three weeks left in the 2026 LCS Summer Season, current back-to-back titleholders have parted ways with substitute jungler . After four matches with the team, the American player ends his tenure with a 3-1 record, suffering his first and only defeat against on the same day he was officially released.

While LYON have not confirmed any plans regarding their starting jungler, , Armao's departure naturally raises the possibility of the Polish player returning to the lineup. Armao was initially brought in through the end of Week 3, but later saw his contract extended through the end of Week 4. With the team now entering a week-long break ahead of the LCS Homeground event in Mexico City from August 29-30, a return for Inspired in Week 6 would be the logical outcome.

That timeline would also line up with what head coach Kim "Reignover" Yeu-jin told Sheep Esports last week when asked about Inspired's potential return. While he could not put an exact date on it, Reignover said the jungler would be back soon:

For now, however, there is still no official confirmation of exactly when Inspired will rejoin the lineup.

Announced in late July, Inspired has now been away from competition for nearly a month, dealing with personal matters in his homeland of Poland. One of the league’s most accomplished players of the current era, the 24-year-old has effectively dominated the LCS for multiple seasons, guaranteeing that whichever team he joins will contend for the title. Recently, Inspired helped lead his team to a historic third-place finish at MSI, falling one game short of reaching the event’s finals.

With multiple Western surges throughout the year, expectations are high for this summer, and his absence, though mitigated by Armao’s presence, has still been felt. Though, perhaps, amid a yearly competitive schedule more packed than ever, this month-long break could positively impact the jungler in the long run.

Overall, the team has escaped its early schedule relatively unscathed, besides yesterday’s loss against Sentinels, and will now be preparing to head to Mexico City to defend its Homeground title. Armao was initially signed through the end of Week 3 and later extended through Week 4, meaning the timing of his departure leaves the door open for Inspired to return once the league resumes. For now, however, that remains an assumption rather than a confirmed roster move.

Though without much prior practice, LYON will have to bring its full force as it now stands to face two of the league’s strongest teams in and . Both teams are familiar opponents, as LYON had to defeat Cloud9 and Team Liquid in the Lock-In tournament and Spring Playoffs, respectively, to earn its two titles this year. Now, all three teams will be eyeing another chance to secure their spot at Worlds.

Beyond its competitive implications, the Mexico City Homegrounds will mark the return of top-level League of Legends to Mexico after the LLA was folded into the North American ecosystem following the 2024 season. For LYON, the event represents an opportunity to bring the organization’s roots back to the forefront of the LCS while giving Mexican fans their first chance in years to watch a top-tier regional competition on home soil.

The event will also take place at Arena Esports Stadium at CINEMEX Artz Pedregal, the same venue that hosted the Worlds 2022 Play-In Stage. With the arena set to welcome LCS competition once again, the weekend will serve as a meaningful homecoming for both LYON and the Mexican League of Legends community, adding another layer of significance to what is already a crucial point in the season.