Colorado’s injury luck took another hit heading into Week 10, and Friday’s report made things even clearer for the Buffaloes before their matchup with Arizona State.
The good news is limited, but it matters: cornerback Cree Thomas and center Sean Kinney are both probable and will play. Kinney has been a steady presence all season after taking over Colorado’s starting center job, especially with backup Demetrius Hunter going down with what looks like a season-ending injury in Week 1. He has kept absorbing the heavier workload without slipping.
Beyond that, the picture got much worse. Taufatofua and Mitchell were still hanging around as doubtful on Thursday, but Friday’s update officially ruled both out. Mitchell has been one of the most reliable pieces in Colorado’s secondary, working alongside safety Randon Fontenette as the steadiest part of that group.
Taufatofua’s season has been stop-and-start from the beginning. He missed Colorado’s first four games, then returned in Week 5 against then-No.
12 Texas Tech and made an immediate impact as a hybrid defensive lineman. He helped Santana Hopper generate pressure, and Hopper likely doesn’t have the game he did without that help.
But after a few encouraging outings, Taufatofua is back on the shelf. He also missed the Kansas State game in Week 9 and will now sit out a second straight week against the Sun Devils.
Welch had also been in the mix as a possible return, but that hope disappeared with the first injury report of the week. Scudero, who appeared in Colorado’s first two games, still has not made it back from the injury report, and his chances of returning this season keep shrinking.
That leaves Manuel as the only player from the Buffs’ midweek reports who still has a shot to suit up against Arizona State. He moved up to questionable on Thursday, and that tag stayed the same on Friday.
Manuel has been important on the interior of Colorado’s defensive line, and if he can’t play, the Buffaloes will have a tougher time slowing down ASU’s rushing attack. Colorado does have depth inside, but losing Manuel would still be a real setback.
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Buffs Tennis Just Sent An Encouraging Early Message In San Diego
Colorados tennis team opened the San Diego State Invitational with a clean start in doubles, and the early results offered a nice snapshot of a group that looked organized and sharp from the outset. Lera Alexin and Ema Bubalo, Heidi Crncan and Willow Gretsch, and Pia Rebec and Louise Ternstroem all came through in their matches, giving the Buffaloes a strong foundation before singles even began.
The momentum carried into singles, where Crncan and Bubalo added victories of their own to keep the day moving in Colorados direction. For a team trying to build rhythm early in the season, performances like that matter because they hint at depth at the top and across the lineup, even if the bigger picture in San Diego is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Game Day Concern Could Shape Deion Sanders Road Upset Bid
Colorado heads into Saturday nights matchup at Arizona State trying to steady a season that has gone sideways in league play, and the injury report is adding another layer of uncertainty. The Buffaloes are 3-5 overall and 1-4 in conference play, while the Sun Devils come in at 4-4, with kickoff set for 5:30 p.m. MT on ESPN2 and Arizona State listed as a three-point favorite at DraftKings Sportsbook.
The biggest concern for Colorado may be how its defense holds up after Naeten Mitchell was added to the injury report, a development that puts more pressure on a secondary already facing a tricky road test. Colorado is also monitoring Danny Scudero, while Arizona State has its own health questions with running back Jason Brown Jr. out of the mix, and the Buffaloes will have to sort through a few more availability issues before they can fully settle on how they want to attack this one. [Read more 🡒]
Colorado Is Chasing A Versatile Legacy Prospect Fans Need To Watch
Colorados 2028 recruiting board already has a name that stands out, and it comes with the kind of versatility Deion Sanders tends to value. The Buffaloes have offered a scholarship to LaGarrette Blount Jr., a wide receiver and defensive back prospect who has drawn attention for his ability to impact the game on both sides of the ball. For a program that has made no secret of wanting dynamic, multi-use talent, he fits the profile of a player worth tracking early.
Blount Jr. is still deep in the early stages of his recruitment, but Colorado has clearly made him a priority in the class. With offers already coming in from several major programs, the race for his commitment figures to stay active for a while, and the Buffaloes will need to keep building that relationship as his profile grows. For now, hes one of the more intriguing long-range names on Colorados radar, especially because his game suggests there may be more than one way to use him once he gets to campus. [Read more 🡒]