The Colorado Buffaloes are likely to have injured receivers Travis Hunter and Jimmy Horn Jr. available this weekend against Arizona.
However, there was some bad news regarding injuries for Colorado’s wide receiver group. Coach Deion Sanders mentioned at his weekly news conference on Tuesday that Hunter (shoulder) and Horn (knee) “should play for certain,” but Omarion Miller (broken lower left leg) and Terrell Timmons Jr. (unspecified) are out for an unknown period. Miller had surgery on Monday and might be done for the season.
“Our receiving room is really deep,” receiver LaJohntay Wester said. “Even the young guys who don’t have actual game-time experience, just the way they practice and attack the day, I’m real confident in our group. I don’t think it’s going to be any fall off.”
Hunter, a Heisman candidate for his exceptional performance on both offense and defense, injured his shoulder and left the game during the first half of a 31-28 loss to No. 17 Kansas State. Losing Hunter for any significant amount of time would have been a major setback for the Buffaloes (4-2, 2-1 Big 12). He’s also the team’s best defensive back and is rarely off the field.
On the play where he got hurt, Hunter caught a pass from Shedeur Sanders on a crossing route and then ran full speed into Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs. He held onto the ball but signaled to the sideline that he needed to be substituted.
Hunter missed three games last season due to a lacerated liver after a hard hit against Colorado State.
This season, Hunter has caught a team-leading 49 passes for 587 yards. On defense, he has intercepted two passes and forced a fumble. He’s a regular presence on the field.
Despite the lack of depth at receiver, Shedeur Sanders performed well against the Wildcats, completing a program-record 16 straight passes at one point. He ended up 34 of 40 for 388 yards and three touchdowns, with one interception.
He is also in the Heisman conversation, alongside Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty and Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel, who are the current favorites according to BetMGM Sportsbook.
“I never thought four receivers would get injured in one game. That’s just ridiculous,” Sanders said after the game. “But things happen, life happens, so we’ve just got to roll with it and do what we’ve got to do for next week.
“We have to keep going no matter what.”
