The Colorado Buffaloes are in a pathetic state right now. It’s not just their tough 28-10 loss to Nebraska that’s got them down; injuries are also hitting hard. With a shaky 1-1 record this season, Deion Sanders needs to turn things around quickly, but he’s dealing with a lot of setbacks though.

Several key players, including Chidozie Nwankwo, Dallan Hayden, and Shilo Sanders, are either injured or resting. Now, Buffs’ insider reporter Brian Howell has more on the situation. 

With the Rocky Mountain Showdown coming up, Howell reported that running back Dallan Hayden is likely out this week. Although Hayden hasn’t had standout stats recently, he could have been a valuable asset for Charlie Offerdahl in the struggling RB room. When an X user inquired about the RB, Howell mentioned that Hayden “limped off the field late in the game” but wasn’t sure about the exact injury.

As for Shilo Sanders, Coach Prime has said he’s expected to be out for 2-3 weeks. This means Sanders will miss the games against CSU and Baylor. Meanwhile, Deion’s confidant, Uncle Neely, also gave some hopeful words, saying, “They felt like that the stitches would not be healed enough for him [Shilo] to play against Colorado State…[but] he’ll certainly be sooner than a typical break would.” He also added that Isaiah Hardge and a few others are also in “precautionary walking boots” to stay safe. However, Howell confirmed that Hardge might be out this week too.

On a positive note, Howell shared that defensive lineman Chidozie Nwankwo is expected to play against the Rams. He had a minor forearm injury in the Nebraska game but seems to be recovering well. But with so many names out, can Deion’s Buffs still cut it?

Colorado Buffaloes need to win big

After the Colorado Buffaloes’ rough game against Nebraska, it’s clear that Deion Sanders and his team have a lot to prove in the coming games. Well, they couldn’t maintain their winning streak against a team they hadn’t lost to in over a decade. Now, they face their in-state rivals, the Colorado State Rams in a similar situation. The Buffs haven’t lost to the Rams since 2015, but with their current performance, anything could happen in 2024.

Former Colorado head coach Gary Barnett is also cautioning the team ahead of the Rocky Mountain Showdown. This time, the game is in Fort Collins, the Rams’ home turf. Barnett says, “They got to learn to play in this stuff” and handle the rival environment. Well, we all saw how the Buffs struggled in the loud boos in Lincoln Stadium last week, and Barnett doesn’t want a repeat of that performance on September 14th. He adds, “This has got to be turned. We have to make this a game because this is a must-win for us.”

Now, the Rams are also with a 1-1 record and are riding high after their 38-17 win over North Colorado. So, it’ll be interesting to see which Colorado team can go for their second win this week.