Rapids striker Conor Casey on Wednesday returned to practice for the first time since tearing his left Achilles tendon in a game last season. Casey wore an orange bib during team training in Commerce City, setting him apart from other players as a precaution.
Casey estimated he will return sometime after Colorado’s game against rival Real Salt Lake in Utah on April 7.
Casey, 30, is the team’s highest-paid player. He had six goals in 14 games in 2011 before limping off the field in a game against Seattle on July 16. Doctors later determined he’d torn the tendon, and he underwent surgery July 20. His recovery was estimated to take about eight months — or, around the time the Rapids travel to New York for Sunday’s game against the Red Bulls on ESPN.
But his recovery was delayed by sports hernia surgery in February.
Colorado State players injured. Three Colorado State football players are recovering from injuries from a fight over the weekend.
The Coloradoan reports that offensive lineman Tyler Sambrailo, 20, suffered a knife injury requiring 14 staples to the back of his shoulder; linebacker Michael Orakpo, 21, was cut on the thumb; and defensive lineman Nordly Capi, 19, had a small cut on his wrist from the fight.
Police Sgt. Kristy Volesky said the three were involved in a fight with a group of people who were kicked out of a St. Patrick’s Day party they attended. One person allegedly kicked out a light on Capi’s car as the group left.
No arrests have been made.
State Games entries being taken. The Colorado Springs Sports Corp. is taking entries for the July 20-29 Rocky Mountain State Games in Colorado Springs.
The competition is open to Colorado citizens of all ages and athletic abilities, including physically disabled, visually impaired and Paralympic athletes. There will be competition in 34 sports in venues throughout the Colorado Springs area, including the Air Force Academy, Colorado College and the U.S. Olympic Training Center.
Online registration is open at coloradosprings- . More information is available at 719-634-7333, ext. 1000.
Denver Post staff and wire reports
