Colorado's Shedeur Sanders takes 'a beating' as Deion laments poor protection vs. UCLA - ESPN

PASADENA, Calif. — Shedeur Sanders' tired demeanor and the box score from Colorado's 28-16 loss to UCLA on Saturday told a similar story.

Over the course of 60 minutes at the Rose Bowl, Shedeur had been sacked seven times, hit 17 other times and knocked down 13 times, and he was pressured in the backfield on countless more occasions.

While the Buffs' offense failed to score a touchdown until late in the fourth quarter, Shedeur spent his night scrambling, sliding or crumpling under the weight of the Bruins' defenders. Colorado managed only 38 rushing yards and 255 total yards, a crippling combination that prevented its quarterback from doing what he does best: throw the ball down the field.

«I'm a little biased because I'm his father, but I think we have the best quarterback in the country,» Buffs coach Deion Sanders said of Shedeur, who was 27-of-43 for 217 yards. «I don't think any other quarterback could put up with having to stand and deliver like he has to every week in, week out, taking a beating.»

What wasn't clear at first was later revealed by Deion: The hits Shedeur has been absorbing in recent weeks and on Saturday led to him receiving an injection at halftime to «block some of the pain,» according to Deion, who said he would give Shedeur the next few days off.

While Sanders did not specify what kind of pain Shedeur was dealing with during Saturday's game, he did express regret in how poorly Shedeur has been protected.

«Overall, we just don't have the fight and the passion to do what we want to do,» Deion said of the offensive line, which has been further depleted with injuries. «The line has to improve. We have to have enough depth to be able to accomplish the goals that we set out to accomplish.»

Colorado —