It seemed a bit odd when Colorado Rapids midfielder Dillon Powers took the field Tuesday night wearing a protective helmet. Turns out he was just protecting his head after colliding with teammate Jared Watts on Sunday in training.
“His teeth went right in here,” Powers said, pointing to the perfectly shaped bite mark just above his hairline on the crown of his head.
Powers said he was trying to head an aerial ball in a small-side game when Watts, who was looking the other way, jumped for the ball and turned at the last second. Watts’ jaw smacked into Powers’ head.
Powers had to get three stitches and five staples to close the wound.
“Luckily I don’t have any concussion symptoms right now,” Powers said.
Watts was not as lucky. His facial injuries kept him out of . A timeline for Watts’ return was not immediately known.
“He seems to be doing much better today,” Powers said. “He’s got some temporary teeth and stuff.”
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Powers ended up playing the full 90 minutes in a holding midfield role alongside captain Sam Cronin.
For Powers, the deeper-lying position suited him well and he connected with runners on several long balls over the top in the first half.
“That’s my favorite part of playing there, you can see more of the game and make those kind of passes,” Powers said. “We had a lot of good opportunities in the first half that we didn’t capitalize on.”
Micheal Azira, Cronin’s usual holding midfield partner, was suspended for the match after receiving a red card last season while playing for Seattle Sounders. In that game, after Azira’s red card and was suspended.
Colorado was extremely depleted entering the match, with Jermaine Jones (U.S.) and Shkelzen Gashi (Albania) away on international duty, center backs Bobby Burling and Sean St. Ledger both recovering from knee surgery, and fullback Marc Burch out with an undisclosed injury suffered in training this week.
Forward Caleb Calvert was Cup-tied to Charlotte Independence. Due to U.S. Open Cup rules the Rapids were only allowed to dress five international players, which meant Republic of Ireland striker Kevin Doyle got the night off. Colorado started the game with only two outfield players available off the bench — Luis Solignac and Marlon Hairston.
“We had low numbers and I kind of had to get through it,” Powers said.
The Rapids’ two-time team MVP said he wore the helmet, similar to the one , as a safety precaution and just tried to remember not to head the ball.
“Cost me a yellow card today,” he said, explaining that in the 51st minute he tried to bring a ball down with his foot and ended up having to commit a professional foul on the play to slow down a Switchbacks attack.
Powers said the team continues to monitor him for concussion symptoms — he suffered a concussion in October 2013 in the — and he plans to wear the helmet at least until he gets the five staples removed from his head.
“Saturday I might wear it. I might not,” Powers said.
