According to Colorado football coach Deion Sanders, the talented two-way player Travis Hunter is expected to return to action this Saturday against Arizona following a right shoulder injury sustained during the recent game against Kansas State.

“Travis will definitely be playing on Saturday,” Sanders confirmed in his weekly press briefing in Boulder.

This news is a significant relief for both the Buffaloes (4-2) and Hunter’s pursuit of the prestigious Heisman Trophy. Hunter, widely regarded as one of the premier talents in college football, was listed among the top two contenders for the award prior to his injury, according to BetMGM.

The injury occurred in the second quarter of Colorado’s 31-28 defeat at home against Kansas State when Hunter made a 14-yard reception and collided with Kansas State safety Daniel Cobbs, resulting in the shoulder injury.

Updates on Colorado’s Injured Wide Receivers

Sanders also provided updates on other injured receivers from the Kansas State game, although specifics about their injuries or Hunter’s were not revealed.

∎ Receiver Jimmy Horn Jr. is expected to play against Arizona (3-3). He currently ranks as Colorado’s second-leading receiver with 26 catches for 347 yards.

∎ Receiver Omarion Miller seems to be out for the remainder of the season following an injury that required surgery after he was assisted off the field in the fourth quarter against Kansas State. Miller, essentially Colorado’s fifth receiver, has recorded 10 catches for 216 yards this season.

∎ Another receiver, Terrell Timmons, who transferred from North Carolina State, is also likely unavailable, according to Sanders.

Given the circumstances, two transfer players, Will Sheppard (from Vanderbilt) and LaJohntay Wester (from Florida Atlantic), are anticipated to take on larger roles in the receiving corps.

Travis Hunter leads the team with 49 receptions for 587 yards. His absence was felt during the last game, as following his injury, the Wildcats were able to score three consecutive touchdowns without him being present to play cornerback on defense.

“Losing Travis means we lose two players,” commented Colorado safety Shilo Sanders on Tuesday.

Shilo Sanders Reflects on His Performance

Hunter’s return is crucial for Colorado as they prepare to go up against one of the country’s top receivers, Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona, who ranks third in the nation with an average of 123.7 receiving yards per game. To effectively contain him, the Buffaloes will require improved performance from Shilo Sanders, who faced criticism from his father and coach for his “horrible” performance against Kansas State.

Despite playing with a broken forearm, which had sidelined him for three games, Shilo missed several tackles and experienced some slips during the matchup. As a graduate student, he is in his final collegiate season after leading the team in tackles last year.

“This is my last year, so it has to be my best season yet,” Shilo Sanders remarked.

He expressed disappointment in his performance, saying, “I worked hard to recover from the injury, only to have the worst game of my life.” He admitted, “I played poorly.”

“It’s quite disheartening for me, especially for the fans,” he added. “I’ve noticed the negative comments directed at me, but that’s not something I’m concerned about.”