He opened the 2023 college football season in dramatic style, earning Heisman Trophy consideration after dominating TCU, but ended Week 3 in hospital after absorbing a late hit in the Colorado Buffaloes overtime win over Colorado State.
The latest Travis Hunter injury update has all the information about the unique two-way athlete’s current medical status.
Travis Hunter Injury Update
“The first thing I heard is that he would be out for a few weeks,” Colorado head coach Deion Sanders told the media in the aftermath of the 43-35 overtime win over Colorado State.
“I heard that for sure. But we will do what we must to take care of him. I know Travis probably will want to be out for two weeks. But we got to make sure he is OK. His health is more important than this game.”
Latest News Surrounding Travis Hunter’s Injury
[Update: September 18, 3:00 p.m. ET] It was announced that Hunter will miss three weeks following the injury sustained against Colorado State. Hunter was reported to have suffered a lacerated liver on the hit.
A major blow to the Buffaloes, the loss of their two-way star was palpable against Colorado State and comes just ahead of the toughest portion of their schedule. Hunter will miss at least three weeks, as reported by Buffs Beat.
That means Hunter will miss games at Oregon, home vs. USC, and a trip to Arizona State. His status for a home game on Friday night, October 13, against Stanford is in the air.
At the original time of writing, there was more information on the timeline for return from Hunter’s injury than the nature of the injury itself. Although the circumstances of it were clear for all to see on Saturday night.
With just under five minutes left on the clock in the first quarter and with Colorado 14-7 down to their in-state rivals, Hunter went toe-to-toe with Rams’ defensive back Ayden Hector in an attempt to reel in a deep pass attempt to the sideline from quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
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At the same time, Colorado State safety Henry Blackburn shot across from mid-field, eating up ground before unceremoniously laying a vicious hit on the two-way Colorado standout. The senior defensive back made no attempt to play the ball, striking Hunter savagely in the torso and leaving him in clear pain on the ground in the white sideline paint.
To add insult to injury, Blackburn can be seen slapping hands in celebration with teammate Chase Wilson after being confronted by Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders in the immediate aftermath.
The hit that caused the Hunter injury was just one incident in a bad-tempered game that saw Colorado State receive 17 penalties for 182 yards. Blackburn accounted for 15 of those in one play alone, although he remarkably escaped ejection.
We’ll have more on the Hunter injury as soon as we have it.