Colorado receiver Paul Richardson already missed a portion of the 2011 season due to injury. Now, and unfortunately for both Richardson and the Buffs, the junior-to-be will be out all of 2012 as well.
The school announced today that Richardson tore his ACL during Monday’s practice and will require season-ending surgery. “At best, it’s a minimum six month rehabilitation following surgery, which will be scheduled once swelling subsides,” the release states. “He tore it simply planting and trying to make a turn in a non-contact special teams drill.”
Just... dang.
“Obviously, it’s a blow to our team, but it’s a part of the game,” head coach Jon Embree said. “It’s an opportunity for others to step up and try to lessen his loss. I thought at first he just rolled his ankle, and it turned out to be this. It’s a shame because he’s worked real hard and was doing a great job both on and off the field, leading by example and improving on all the things he needed to work on.”
Richardson had 39 receptions for 555 yards and five touchdowns last season, good for third on the team. He set a school record with 284 yards in CU’s 36-33 overtime loss to California, where he also tied the school mark for single game receptions with 11.
Life’s been hard on Colorado football lately. Unfortunately, things don’t seem to be getting any easier any time soon.