Sporting KC captain Matt Besler passes concussion protocol, returns to practice

Sporting Kansas City welcomed its captain back to the practice field Monday.

After missing the past two matches, Matt Besler rejoined his teammates subsequent to passing Major League Soccer’s concussion protocol. His availability for Wednesday’s match against Colorado will be determined based on his response to a full practice session Monday.

“He looked good. It’s definitely a good step,” coach Peter Vermes said. “It’s just going to (come down to) how is he feeling today and tomorrow, and us being smart about it.”

Besler suffered a concussion in a practice session with the U.S. men’s national team in Guatemala on March 24.

Sporting KC winger Brad Davis is also on the mend after sitting out Saturday’s 2-0 win against the New York Red Bulls with a concussion, which he suffered in practice last week. Vermes said Davis is scheduled to visit a doctor later Monday in hopes of being cleared to return.

Sporting KC lost a pair of defenders during Saturday’s victory — Chance Myers and Kevin Ellis. Both players were awaiting the results of an MRI on Monday morning.

Myers came out of the match with a tightness in his hamstring, but Vermes said Myers appears to have escaped a serious injury. Ellis, on the other hand, could be out for an extended period of time with a groin injury.

“Chance just had a little bit of a cramp that caught up to him, but we’re just making sure there’s nothing more there,” Vermes said. “Kevin’s was a lot worse. From the way I understand it, he pulled his groin. But he’s not going to be back this week — that’s for sure.”

Sporting KC plays host to Colorado at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the 20th anniversary of its inaugural match, in which the club defeated the Rapids 3-0. Sporting KC travels to face FC Dallas on Sunday.

Defensive midfielder Soni Mustivar, who injured his hamstring during practice last week, sat out training Monday and is unlikely to return to the lineup this week.

Winger Justin Mapp took a step forward on Monday, progressing to soccer drills in his rehabilitation from a toe injury. Paulo Nagamura remains sidelined with a calf injury.

This story was originally published April 11, 2016 at 12:50 PM with the headline "Sporting KC captain Matt Besler passes concussion protocol, returns to practice."