Boulder – Colorado cornerback Lorenzo Sims dodged fate as long as he could.
He knew the torn cartilage in his left knee would give him major problems at some point this season. It finally occurred Saturday on the first defensive play of CU’s 42-17 loss at Texas.
He made a cut and felt the pain. Immediate swelling ensued. Now, CU’s best cornerback will be out at least two weeks. The junior had surgery Monday afternoon.
He stopped and chatted with media before heading off for the operating table.
“They are taking the torn cartilage out,” Sims said. “Obviously it hurts more than usual. That’s why I’m getting it fixed. Hopefully I’ll be back by the Missouri game (Nov. 5).”
Sims said he originally tore the cartilage on the first day of fall camp in August. He did not miss a practice, but didn’t go all out, either.
He used ice to control the swelling and took painkillers before each game.
“I didn’t even want to complain about it,” he said. “It bothered me every game, every practice. I just tried to focus on other things, keep my mind off of it because it was going to hurt regardless. I tried to do the best I could, and I think I did up to this point.”
In Sims’ place, junior college transfer Terry Washington will get his first start as a Buff on Saturday against Kansas. He has been used mainly as an extra defensive back this season.
“The last three weeks have been the best three weeks since I’ve been here,” said Washington, who originally signed with the Buffs in 2003 as a running back out of Cleveland High School in St. Louis.
“I’m getting all of the mental aspects of the game down,” Washington added. “It’s not a physical thing. It’s knowing where I’m supposed to be at the right time, knowing plays and alignments.”
Fortunately for CU, there is no better time to break in a new cornerback than against the pass-impaired Jayhawks. Kansas ranks 10th in the Big 12 and 95th in the nation in pass offense.
Kansas has completed just 50 percent of its passes for 1,008 yards, five touchdowns and nine interceptions.
Footnotes
Defensive tackle John Guydon also played on the offensive line against Texas. He is the first Buff to play both ways in at least one series of a game since wide receiver Michael Westbrook played safety for a series against Baylor in 1993. … As of Monday afternoon, CU still had 7,100 tickets available for Saturday’s game.
