Throughout the 2019 preseason, we'll be checking in from camps in Bradenton and Chula Vista as the Rapids prepare for their season opener on March 2. In this installment, we take a look at the roster invited to the second preseason camp and the upcoming scrimmages in California.
Going back to Cali
The Rapids players and technical staff left snowy Colorado for the California sunshine Wednesday afternoon as they kicked off their second preseason camp of 2019 in Chula Vista.
The first team and players invited to train are headquartered at the Chula Vista Elite Athlete Training Center. The team has several friendlies before heading back to Denver on February 27, just a few days shy of the 2019 MLS Home Opener (TICKETS).
"Fitness wise there is a lot of work to do," said Hudson. "Getting the endurance work, the minutes in and also strength work I think is something that is going to be a big focus as you'd expect in preseason."
Joining the squad in Chula Vista are Kei Kamara and Kortne Ford who are back with the team despite rehabbing from a pulmonary contusion and calf strain and bone bruise, respectively. Defender Keegan Rosenberry has also linked up with the club for the first time after spending several weeks in the USMNT January camp.
Sam Vines has been added to the injury list as he suffered a quad strain on February 2. The Homegrown will remain in Chula Vista and is estimated to return to full training within two weeks.
Up Next
Up next will be a scrimmage against Ventura County Fusion of the USL2 division on Saturday, February 9 at 1:00 PM MT that will feature two 30-minute halves.
The previously scheduled scrimmage against the University of San Diego has been cancelled.
Check out the full preseason schedule BY CLICKING HERE.
Current First Team Roster In-Camp
| POSITION | NUMBER | PLAYER |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | 1 | Tim Howard |
| Goalkeeper | 31 | Clint Irwin |
| Goalkeeper | 15 | Andre Rawls |
| Defender | 24 | Kortne Ford |
| Defender | 18 | Sam Raben |
| Defender | 2 | Keegan Rosenberry |
| Defender | 44 | Axel Sjöberg |
| Defender | 5 | Tommy Smith |
| Defender | 13 | Sam Vines |
| Defender | 4 | Danny Wilson |
| Defender | 27 | Deklan Wynne |
| Midfielder | 10 | Kellyn Acosta |
| Midfielder | 26 | Cole Bassett |
| Midfielder | 21 | Nana Boateng |
| Midfielder | 8 | Johan Blomberg |
| Midfielder | 6 | Benny Feilhaber |
| Midfielder | 20 | Nicolás Mezquida |
| Midfielder | 28 | Sam Nicholson |
| Midfielder | 19 | Jack Price |
| Midfielder | 17 | Dillon Serna |
| Forward | 11 | Shkëlzen Gashi |
| Forward | 29 | Matt Hundley |
| Forward | 12 | Niki Jackson |
| Forward | 23 | Kei Kamara |
| Forward | 7 | Diego Rubio |
| Forward | 99 | Andre Shinyashiki |
*See below for injury updates
Training with Colorado Springs Switchbacks FC
Injury Report
PLAYER |
INJURY |
TiMETABLE |
DATE OF INJURY |
|---|---|---|---|
<strong><a href="/players/kortne-ford" target="_blank">Kortne Ford</a></strong> |
Calf strain & bone bruise in knee |
6-8 weeks** |
Dec. 12, 2018 |
<strong><a href="/players/kei-kamara" target="_blank">Kei Kamara</a></strong> |
Pulmonary contusion |
4-6 weeks** |
Jan. 16, 2019 |
<a href="/players/sam-nicholson" target="_blank"><strong>Sam Nicholson</strong></a> |
Lumbar spine stress fracture |
2-3 weeks** |
Jan. 21, 2019 |
<a href="/players/sam-vines" target="_blank"><strong>Sam Vines</strong></a> |
Quad strain |
2 weeks** |
Feb. 2, 2019 |
**Timetable reflects player's estimated return to full training from date of injury
Invited to Chula Vista Camp
POSITION |
PLAYER |
NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Goalkeeper |
Abe Rodriguez |
Academy |
Defender |
Sebastian Anderson |
Academy |
Defender |
<strong><a href="/players/jacob-hauser-ramsey" target="_blank">Jacob Hauser-Ramsey</a></strong> |
2019 MLS SuperDraftee |
Defender |
Kofi Opare |
Invited to train |
Released Prior to Chula Vista Camp
POSITION |
PLAYER |
|---|---|
Forward |
Enoch Mushagalusa |
