GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP The passing game has been vital to Colorado’s early-season success. Injuries, however, could reshape how the unit looks when the Buffs line out wide against one of the Pac-12’s better passing defenses. With the nation’s leading receiver Laviska Shenault Jr. (toe) and Jay MacIntyre (concussion protocol) regarded as questionable for this week’s game, Mike MacIntyre could turn towards Juwann Winfree to spell close to 800 yards and eight touchdowns potentially lost to injury. Winfree posted 55 yards and a touchdown in the Buffs’ first two games before sustaining an ankle injury. Redshirt freshman Jaylon Jackson, who made his collegiate debut last week with a pair of catches for 19 yards, could also see more snaps.
The Washington pass defense is limiting foes to 178.6 yards per game and five touchdowns, but the Huskies secondary can be worked on, especially by an accurate quarterback. Opponents are connecting on 63.3 percent of their throws on a Washington defense that’s picked off just two passes all year. Colorado quarterback Steven Montez leads the conference in completion percentage (70.5 percent) against just three interceptions tossed.
DRAFT SLANT
–CB Delrick Abrams Jr. is making the most of his time in Boulder. The Independence (Kan.) Community College transfer leads the Buffs with four passes broken up on the year, as well as a quarterback hurry and forced fumble. The cornerback who had 92 tackles and five interceptions on the junior college level has worked his way into a starting role for Mike MacIntyre’s defense with two seasons of eligibility remaining.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DE Jase Franke will miss the remainder of the season after the redshirt senior sustained a torn ACL against Southern California. The defensive end had 10 tackles, including three for loss, and two sacks. “It’s really sad losing Jase,” Mike MacIntyre said. “It’s the end of his career. It was really heartbreaking. He’s done a great job here for us as a player. Hurting your knee is hard enough, but when you know it’s over, that’s really hard.”
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