Colorado Rapids striker Diego Rubio will be out two to five weeks after undergoing arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his right knee, the team announced Monday.
Rubio did not travel with the team to Seattle for the season opener, a source confirmed to The Post, and he was only added to the injury report Saturday night. The Post confirmed at that time the injury was not an ACL or MCL tear.
In medical terms, a “loose body” is bits of bone or cartilage that have broken free and are essentially floating around within the knee joint. Arthroscopic surgery removes those, and the procedure is considered to be minimally invasive.
With Rubio out, it could mean a significant opportunity for 18-year-old center forward Darren Yapi to step up, as he got the start in Sunday’s 4-0 loss to the Sounders. Kévin Cabral and Calvin Harris are also options.
Rubio, 29, tied a club-high record for goals in a single season in 2022 with 16, adding seven assists along the way.
Colorado opens its home slate against Sporting Kansas City at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.
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