The Colorado Buffaloes exited Lincoln, Nebraska with not only a grueling loss but also some battle scars as the page turns to another rivalry matchup against Colorado State.
CU head coach Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders spoke to members of the media Tuesday morning, and among his comments, he provided an update on those injured and their status going forward. Shilo Sanders was the first to be mentioned, estimated to be ruled out for the next two to three weeks with an arm injury.
The safety's injury occurred in the first quarter of Saturday evening's 28-10 defeat during a tackle attempt on Cornhuskers tailback Dante Dowdell. Shilo quickly exited to the locker room after the sequence and underwent surgery on Sunday.
"Shilo has God in his corner," noted Coach Sanders of his son's recovery, who has undergone both an ACL repair in 2022 and a shoulder surgery this past offseason. "I haven't seen anything like it, the healing ability."
The South Carolina and Jackson State transfer in his sixth season at the college level missed one game last season with a kidney injury. In the games he played, Sanders tied for top marks in the Pac-12 in solo tackles (55) and led the Buffaloes in both total tackles (70) and fumbled forced (four). This season, he has logged 11 total tackles and eight solo tackles.
While the extent of his injury is unknown, the absence of his vintage, hard-hitting playstyle will be apparent in the coming weeks against CSU, Baylor and the University of Central Florida. While Sanders has caused six turnovers in his collegiate career, CU's defense has forced zero turnovers through two games in 2024.
Ohio State transfer Dallan Hayden was also said to be likely out this Saturday against the Rams. While the specifics of the running back's ailment are yet to be announced, the sophomore has accounted for 52 yards on 14 carries through two contests in black and gold and appeared as a bright spot within an otherwise dismal running game.
In two seasons with the Buckeyes, the native of Memphis, Tennessee had 130 carries for 663 yards (5.1 yards per rush).
Regarding senior nose tackle Chidozie Nwankwo (shoulder) and freshman corner Isaiah Hardge (foot), their status for Saturday is uncertain.
Nwankwo has one of the pass rush's two sacks this season, and while Hardge has not logged a statistic, he has appeared as a special teamer and a possible future building block of a secondary soon-to-be without wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter after the 2024 campaign.
Standout linebacker LaVonta Bentley and quarterback Shedeur Sanders were respectively mentioned as "limping" and "dinged up" following the defeat in Lincoln as well, but it seems likely that they will take part in the upcoming Rocky Mountain Showdown.
Cover photo by Roberto Patrick Gerra/Sko Buffs Sports
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