BOULDER, Colo.—Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen is likely out for the rest of the season with a ruptured spleen.
Hansen was hurt in the second quarter of a 27-24 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday when he was hit hard on an option pitch to tailback Rodney Stewart.
The school announced he had bruised ribs. Hansen came back out and tried to throw passes at halftime, but he said later that he was in too much pain and had trouble breathing. He watched from the sideline as backup Cody Hawkins played the rest of the game.
Hansen, a junior, was hospitalized in Boulder on Saturday night and may remain there for the next few days, where surgeons might have to remove his spleen.
The team said there’s a chance Hansen could return to the field if the Buffaloes (3-4, 0-3 Big 12) qualify for a bowl game.
Before heading to the hospital, Hansen seemed to have a sense that his injury was serious even though X-rays showed no fractured ribs, saying he doubted he’d be able to start next week at Oklahoma.
Hawkins, the son of the embattled head coach Dan Hawkins, completed 22 of 43 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Hansen on Saturday.
Hansen burned his potential redshirt seasons in 2008 and ’09 when he was called on to step in when the offense struggled under Cody Hawkins.
Hansen said after the game the Buffaloes still believe they can turn things around with five games remaining. The team needs six wins to become bowl eligible.
“It does get harder (to stay optimistic). Sometimes it feels like you’re up against the world a little bit. But you just have to stay positive,” Hansen said. “I think we’ve done a good job of that all year.”
