Colorado’s injury picture keeps getting worse, and the Buffaloes head into their Week 8 matchup with Oklahoma State carrying another long list of questions.
What Colorado hoped might be a cleaner week after the bye never really materialized. The Buffs were still short-handed against Utah, and the injury report for this week only added more names to the mix.
The biggest new concerns are running back Micah Welch and offensive lineman Jayven Richardson. Both were hurt in the Utah game, and neither is trending in a reassuring direction. Coach Deion Sanders addressed Welch on Tuesday and made clear the situation is still murky.
“He's hurting. He didn't practice today.
I have no idea [if it’s long-term],” Sanders said. “He's hurting right now.
I think he may have broken it. I don't know if he broke it.
Yeah. I know that happened, but I don't know the severity of it.”
Colorado is also still dealing with the continued uncertainty around Perry and Danny Scudero. Scudero’s situation stands out most, especially after he was at the Utah game in a boot and on crutches. Sanders stopped short of giving a firm update on Perry, but his comments on Scudero made it sound like the staff is prioritizing the bigger picture.
“We want what's best for Danny. We don't want to push Danny out there, and he does something and sets himself back,” Sanders said.
“We care about the whole person, not just the person for this season. You're talking about a great kid that everyone on the team and staff admires, and we want to see him successful beyond Colorado.
So we're doing what's best for him, and Danny keeps a smile on his face. He's passionate about getting back out there, and he's doing everything he can to progress that.”
There is at least one encouraging note in the latest report: Sam Gadie is now listed, which suggests he is moving toward a possible return. The JUCO transfer still hasn’t played this season, but his appearance on the report means Colorado will start evaluating him on a week-to-week basis.
Lamont Lester’s status is another one to watch closely. He looked ready to go before the Utah game, suiting up and going through pregame warmups without any obvious issues.
But once the game started, he logged only a handful of snaps and barely factored in. Sanders wasn’t thrilled with that outcome on Tuesday.
“We don't want that because that's not helping him or helping us. Like, if you're gonna dress out, you got to play, or just don't dress,” Sanders said.
“I'd rather him get the proper treatment so he can get back and be who he is. The kid is phenomenal.
He can really play this game of football, but you don't want half of Lamont. You want the whole.
So hopefully, he’ll take his time. And I know he practiced a little bit today, but I don't want a little bit.”
As for the players listed as probable, none were dealing with injuries a week ago. That points to minor knocks either from the Utah game or from the first part of practice this week. The expectation is that those players should be available Saturday, and that most of them should disappear from the injury report by Thursday or Friday.
In Other News...
Oklahoma State's Secondary Just Took A Brutal Hit
Oklahoma States secondary took a significant blow this week, with Mose Phillips III now expected to be sidelined for the rest of the football season after an injury, according to a school official. Phillips had been a key piece in the back end, and the timing makes the setback sting even more for a defense trying to hold together through the grind of the schedule.
Wednesday night brought the confirmation, and it leaves the Cowboys adjusting on the fly as they move deeper into the year. The photo attached to the report, showing Phillips breaking up a pass against Tulsa, is a reminder of the kind of impact he had been capable of making before the season took this turn. [Read more 🡒]
Oklahoma State Faces A Protection Test Colorado Could Exploit
Colorado is getting ready for a matchup with Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker, and the Buffaloes defensive front is shaping up as a key part of the plan. Defensive coordinator Chris Marve singled out Dylan Manuel and Santana Hopper for the way they have played up front, crediting them for the energy and disruption they have brought to the line.
For Colorado, the assignment is clear: make Mestemaker uncomfortable and force the Cowboys to work harder for everything through the air. Manuel and Hopper are expected to be central to that effort, especially if they can keep collapsing the pocket and make Oklahoma States passing game play on a shorter leash. [Read more 🡒]
BYU Just Added A New Threat To Its Big 12 Push
The Big 12 has reached its midpoint with three teams still undefeated in league and overall play, and all three sit in the AP Top 10, a sign of how quickly the race has tightened at the top. BYU added another rsum win by beating Notre Dame even while dealing with injuries, Houston kept showing real offensive punch behind Conner Weigman, and Texas Tech continued to look more balanced after a slow start.
For Oklahoma State, though, the weekend was another reminder of how hard it has been to find answers on defense. The Cowboys were on the wrong end of a game in which Houston moved the ball with ease, while other league problems kept stacking up around them, from Baylors offensive struggles to Arizona States quarterback change during the game. With the conference season still young enough for swings in the standings, Oklahoma States issues in the back end are becoming the kind of problem that can define the rest of the run. [Read more 🡒]