Colorado's Shedeur Sanders 'Couldn't Really Grip the Ball' After Injury, Deion Says

Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders was knocked out of Friday's 56-14 loss to Washington State in the second quarter with a wrist injury.

Speaking to reporters after the game, head coach Deion Sanders said Shedeur was dealing with "some numbness in his hand" and he "couldn't really grip the ball."

Deion was also asked about possibly shutting Shedeur down for the rest of the season, but he responded by saying his son "is not the kind of player" that wants to shut down.

Shedeur appear to suffer two different injuries in the game. He was favoring his upper-body after a strip-sack in the first quarter that knocked him out for one offensive possession.

After returning to the game, Shedeur was tackled on a quarterback keeper in the second quarter and was clutching his right arm.

Sanders did have one spectacular highlight before leaving the game. He threw a 45-yard touchdown pass to Travis Hunter late in the first quarter, on his first series after injuring his upper body, to cut Washington State's lead to 14-7.

Sanders finished the game 6-of-10 for 86 yards and a score. Ryan Staub and Gavin Kuld both saw action after Sanders was injured. They combined to go 6-of-17 for 78 yards and one interception.

A season that started with such promise for the Buffaloes is ending on a down note. They were 3-0 and ranked as high as No. 18 in the Associated Press Top 25 going into a Sept. 23 game against Oregon.

Colorado lost 42-6 to Oregon and has been on a downward trajectory since then. Coach Prime's team is 1-7 in their last eight games and allowing 38 points per game during this stretch.

The Buffaloes' loss to Washington State ensured they won't be bowl eligible. Sanders' injury only compounded the problems they were having because the defense wasn't stopping the Cougars even before he left the game.

Sanders has a playing style that leaves him open to taking hits, though he's managed to make it work for the offense. He's been sacked an FBS-high 52 times this season.

Despite all of those hits, Sanders is still completing 69.3 percent of his attempts for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Colorado will wrap up the regular season on Nov. 25 against No. 16 Utah.