The Colorado Rapids on Wednesday announced defender Kortne Ford will miss 8 to 10 weeks after injuring his knee in a scrimmage.
The injury, which was diagnosed as a left medial collateral ligament (MCL) sprain, happened Saturday at the team’s training facility.
Ford, 22, appeared in 20 games for Colorado in his rookie season and was voted the team’s Young Player of the Year.
The former Denver Pioneers center back started both CONCACAF Champions League games against Toronto FC last month as one of three starting central defenders.
The Rapids have a handful of options at center back when they open their season Saturday at New England, including the newly acquired Tommy Smith, Danny Wilson and Deklan Wynne, former MLS best XI center back Axel Sjoberg, and defenders Jared Watts and Eric Miller.