Shedeur Sanders’ protection weakened with Colorado OL’s injury

Shedeur Sanders’ pass protection, which has been suspect through the first two weeks of the 2023 season, just got weakened by the leg injury to Colorado football center Van Wells that has the second-year Buff’s status for the Rocky Mountain Showdown designated as “doubtful.” Per ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the injury happened during CU’s Week 2 win over Nebraska.

“Colorado starting center Van Wells is doubtful for the game against Colorado State on Saturday night, sources told ESPN, leaving the Buffaloes with a true freshman starting at center,” Thamel reported. “Wells was limited in practice this week, sources said, after leaving the Nebraska game with an apparent leg injury in the fourth quarter. His absence would add another layer of uncertainty to one of the Buffaloes’ most glaring weaknesses.”

As Thamel relayed, true freshman Hank Zilinskas is slated for his first career start in Week 3 against Colorado State in Boulder on September 16.

Colorado football OL could hold Buffs back from reaching full potential

Given how quickly the Colorado football roster has gelled, the Buffs’ ceiling is seemingly limitless. Remember, these players have had cameras in their faces since arriving at Coach Prime’s program and have had to acquiesce to brand-new schemes and an unfamiliar locker room.

If there’s one aspect that could submarine CU’s chances of making a Cinderella-esque run in the Pac-12 is the team’s protection, or lack thereof, on offense. The offensive line has allowed Sanders to be sacked 11 times through two weeks of the season, and the running back room has yet to have a single player reach 60 yards rushing thus far.

Things could, and should, change against CSU, but that doesn’t mean Colorado has nothing to worry about. Quite the opposite. When the Buffs start facing the USCs, Washingtons, and Oregons of the world, Sanders may not have time to be the spectacular playmaker he’s been considering the collapsing pockets he may experience.

Wells getting well soon will go a long way toward addressing this worry, but the first two weeks of the season have made thinking about the OL scary so far.