The Chicago Fire’s Calen Carr suffered a severe MCL sprain last July that threatened his greatest attribute, his speed. A year later, he is back to dispel any doubts about his recovery. “I think when you go through a major injury, especially a knee injury, you have a lot of questions that pop into your head,” Carr said during training last week, when he was placed back on the active roster. “When you are on crutches for months at a time, you take baby steps, wanting to know what it is going to be like to walk again, or what it is going to be like to jog. I had the best doctors for surgery to physical therapy, and in my mind I am back all the way, if not stronger,” he said. “I feel a little more explosive.”
On Saturday, Carr got his first MLS appearance since July 5, 2008, coming on as a reserve forward in the Chicago Fire’s 2-1 win over the Colorado Rapids. The Fire and Carr have been patient with his recovery, something both parties believe benefits him now. “It’s been a long process for him; almost a year,” Fire coach Denis Hamlett said. “We were patient with him, and he worked really hard, especially the last two months. You watch him play and you don’t see a guy who is coming off an MCL injury. He is playing with confidence, and he is not afraid. Dividends were paid by being patient with him, and now he is hungry to get on the field.”
Carr, who at 6 feet weighs in at a sleight 150 pounds, will have to battle for playing time as the Fire have three entrenched forwards: Brian McBride, Chris Rolfe and second-year forward Patrick Nyarko. “I have to be patient still, because I have been out for so long,” Carr said. “I have to be patient, giving myself a chance to come into my game. Physically, I feel great, back to normal.” Hamlett will likely use Carr as a substitute to inject pace into games when needed.