Brian Mullan is expected to play for the Colorado Rapids against the Seattle Sounders at CenturyLink Field on Saturday in his first appearance since his reckless tackle last April fractured Steve Zakuani’s leg in two places -- an injury from which Zakuani is still struggling to recover. Zakuani, though, says that he has no particular problem with Mullan playing while he must watch.

“I wish him the best,” he said. “… I never wish ill on anybody. I just want the fans to understand that I’ve got no issues with the guy. It’s not like we have some previous history and he came in to do it. It was just a bad tackle. I wish him the best. The fans will do what they need to do, but my advice is just let it go and support the team.”

Mullan was left home for the Rapids' game in Seattle last summer. By then, he had served his 10-game suspension. Zakuani doesn't know if he and Mullan will meet Saturday.

“We can have the talk, we can not have the talk; it doesn’t change anything,” he said. “… I think he understands what it cost me. You can see the scar: I have a massive scar on my leg and skin grafts. Everyone knows it’s cost me a year of my career. There’s no getting around that. He understands that, but I don’t, like, want to hold that over his head. I want him, especially on Saturday, to come in and play his game. … Let’s just play the game of football and try to get a win and then move on to the next week.”