Deion Sanders to undergo medical procedure for blood clot issues

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado coach Deion Sanders will undergo a procedure later Tuesday that's related to his blood clots, with the hope of being back at practice the next day and on the sideline this weekend against Iowa State.

The surgery is called an aspiration thrombectomy, which involves the left popliteal — located behind the knee — and tibial arteries. Sanders said it will take several hours.

He gave the medical update at the end of his weekly news conference, saying, “I cannot wait to get past this hurdle.” He added it's hereditary and “has nothing to do with me working at the level I’m trying to compete at.”

The 58-year-old coach was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU last Saturday, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. He didn't wear a shoe on his left foot in the second half and after the game said he was “hurting like crazy.”

“I’m going to be all right,” said Sanders, whose Buffaloes (2-4, 0-3 Big 12) host No. 22 Iowa State (5-1, 2-1) on Saturday. “Prayerfully, I'll be right back tomorrow because I don't miss practice. I don't plan on doing such.”

Sanders dealt with blood clot issues while at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two of his toes on his left foot. He also skipped a Pac-12 media day session in 2023 following a procedure to remove a blood clot from his right leg and another to straighten toes on his left foot.

Sanders spent time away from the team over the summer after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer. He revealed the details of his treatment, which involved doctors reconstructing a section of his intestine to function as a bladder. He frequently needs to use the restroom so the school introduced a portable sideline bathroom for him during games that’s sponsored by Depend underwear.

___

Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football