Colorado hosted the first of three spring scrimmages on Thursday, but senior receiver Scotty McKnight suffered a leg injury late in the game that put him in a boot and on crutches.
Buffaloes coach Dan Hawkins and other team officials had no update on McKnight's status, but quarterback Tyler Hansen said after practice that McKnight told him the injury was a broken fibula that would keep him out for the remainder of the spring. Team trainer Miguel Rueda told reporters on Thursday there was nothing peculiar in McKnight's MRI, and he would be further evaluated on Friday morning. Before the injury, McKnight had three catches for 31 yards and a 14-yard score.
McKnight led the Buffaloes last season with 76 receptions for 895 yards, and ended the season two catches shy of the school record, set by Michael Westbrook. McKnight also broke his ankle during the spring before his redshirt freshman season, but returned to lead the Buffaloes in receiving.
The Buffaloes second-leading receiver last year, Markques Simas, is practicing this spring after being reinstated following a DUI arrest and suspension. Simas and transfer Toney Clemons will likely take over as Hansen's top targets for the remainder of spring through McKnight's return.
Cody Hawkins was 25-of-44 for 194 yards and four touchdowns. Hansen was 16-of-29 for 136 yards and a touchdown.
Hansen began spring with the goal of not throwing a single interception, but Dan Hawkins said the length of the 163-play scrimmage made the turnovers less bothersome. Afterward, Hansen called the quarterback battle "dead even."
"I can't have an OK day," he told CUBuffs.com. "I have to have a great day."
Zach Grossnickle, a redshirt freshman playing both punter and placekicker, made all four field goal attempts and averaged 37.5 yards on nine punts, with a long of 44 yards. Rodney Stewart and Brian Lockridge both had just four carries in the scrimmage, but with just three scholarship running backs dressed for spring practice, Hawkins is likely being cautious with his shallow depth at the position. The Buffaloes signed three running backs in their 2010 class.