Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders Knocked Out of Game vs. Washington State
Shedeur Sanders, the quarterback for the University of Colorado, was knocked out of the game against Washington State on Friday night after sustaining a brutal hit in the first quarter. Sanders, who is the son of Colorado coach Deion Sanders, was sacked four times in his first 10 plays, with one hit appearing to injure his right throwing arm.
Despite the injury, Sanders returned to the game after the hit to throw a 45-yard touchdown pass to receiver Travis Hunter. However, he was forced to leave the game after a fumbled snap in the second quarter, with Colorado trailing 28-7. A Colorado spokesman confirmed that Sanders was out of the game for good after that.
The Buffaloes struggled with pass protection throughout the game, and Sanders’ replacements were unable to turn the tide. Freshman backup quarterback Ryan Staub took over in the first half as Colorado continued to struggle against Washington State’s defense.
Sanders had previously needed painkiller injections to finish games and had never been forced to leave a game due to hits until Friday night. Despite his efforts, Colorado went on to lose the game 56-14, bringing their record to 4-7 for the season. Sanders dressed in warm-up gear and watched from the sidelines as the Buffaloes trailed 42-7 at halftime.
The loss of Sanders comes at a crucial time for Colorado, as they are set to finish the regular season next week at Utah. With his status uncertain, the team will need to regroup and adjust their strategy for the upcoming game.
Despite the setback, Sanders set a new Colorado single-season passing yardage record with 3,230 yards, surpassing the previous record set by Sefo Liufau in 2014. However, Sanders has made it clear that statistical milestones are not what matter to him, and his focus remains on the team’s success on the field.
The full extent of Sanders’ injury and his availability for the upcoming game against Utah is not yet known, but his absence will undoubtedly be felt by the Buffaloes as they aim to finish the season on a strong note.