Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan back from concussion | Notebook
RENTON - Sounders midfielder Cristian Roldan continues to be a steady presence at training this week after being under concussion protocol.
The team captain passed final testing Tuesday and Thursday's training session was his second as a full participant. Roldan expects to be available to start the road match against Sporting Kansas City on Saturday.
"Excited," Roldan told FOX Sports' "First Things First" show on Wednesday. "I'm back from my concussion protocol and I'm excited for another opportunity to get three points."
Roldan missed last week's win against FC Dallas at Lumen Field after taking a ball to the head at training earlier in the week. The U.S. international was relieved the injury wasn't serious like in 2023 when he suffered two concussions that, including a late-season groin injury, limited him to 18 MLS matches.
There's added pressure to utilize Sounders matches to further Roldan's push to make the U.S. men's national team's FIFA Men's World Cup roster. The team will be unveiled May 26 at a public celebration in New York City that will also air on FOX beginning at noon.
In his last match, Roldan scored a brace in a win against St. Louis City on April 18. He has three goals overall in MLS competitions, starting six of his seven league appearances.
Winging it
Jordan Morris has been vocal in the past about wanting to be the starting forward for the Sounders. After an injury riddled 2025 season and suffering a quad injury seven minutes into this year's opener in February, Morris has given up the campaign.
Sounders coach Brian Schmetzer has played him on the right and left wing this season, the latter being where Morris played the bulk of his professional career. The Mercer Island High alum contributed a goal and assist against Dallas in vintage form from the right flank.
"I had lost some of my love for the game; that came through just being in the gym so much and sitting out so much," said Morris, the club's all-time leading goal scorer (92). "I wanted to get that back and part of that was accepting to just do whatever the team needs wherever Schmetz sees me. Just being on the field is what's gonna make me happy. I definitely switched (my mentality) in that way and I do feel a little bit more free."
Morris set one of his club records against SKC in 2023. He netted four goals in an eventual 4-1 win at Sporting Park, the most scored by a Sounders player in a single match.
Last-place Kansas City (1-7-1) is on a six-match losing streak, through all competitions, and has been outscored 25-7 in MLS play so far this season.
Getting better
Yeimar Gómez Andrade jumped to head a ball away at training Thursday, looking like he's ready to return to his slot on the Sounders backline. But it was just an errant ball the center back couldn't resist turning into an aerial play he'd make in a match.
The Colombian remains out with a hamstring injury. He recently had an MRI that showed some scar tissue that needs to completely heal before Yeimar can be cleared to return to training.
The injury occurred in a road win against St. Louis in March. Sounders veteran Alex Roldan and new signee Antino Lopez have filled Yeimar's role.
"When you're winning games, you have a little bit of luxury of not rushing guys back, Schmetzer said. "We're gonna make sure that Yeimar is 100 percent before we get him back."
Fellow center back Kim Kee-hee (calf) could make his season debut Saturday after returning to training this week. Sounders playmaker Albert Rusnák (hamstring) and winger Paul Arriola (adductor) were part of training Thursday and also could make the trip to play SKC.
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This story was originally published April 30, 2026 at 4:58 PM.