Deion Sanders expects to have one of the most dynamic players in the country back on the field for Colorado later this month.

Travis Hunter has not played for Colorado since the Sept. 16 win over Colorado State, when a hit sent him to the hospital with a lacerated liver. CU, which opened the year 3-0 with Hunter on the field, has lost both games since he’s gone out of the lineup. Against Oregon, Hunter may not have made a huge difference. But in a 48-41 loss to USC last weekend, Hunter could have been valuable.

After the Oregon loss, Hunter told Sanders that Colorado needed to do everything possible to get him back on the field in time for the USC game and he would not take no for an answer.

Sanders has taken a protective approach, however.

Hunter did not practice with the team Tuesday and will likely miss the Arizona State game on Saturday. Sanders said his preference would also be for Hunter to sit the Stanford game on Oct. 14 before CU’s bye week on Oct. 21.

“Travis is doing well. He was out at practice today coaching his butt off,” Sanders said. “Let’s say two or three (weeks away). It would be my dream and desire for him to stay out until after the bye week but I know Travis. He’s gonna want to (play sooner).”

Sanders said CU is hopeful to get back Shilo Sanders and Myles Slusher — two starters in the secondary — before the bye week, and he added their returns will have Hunter pushing to get back on the field at the same time.

“But I would love him to be out until the bye. That gives him like three extra weeks,” Sanders said.

That would put his return to the field on Oct. 28 against UCLA on the road.

Hunter had 16 catches for 213 yards as a receiver on offense. On defense, he has 9 tackles, 2 pass breakups, and an interception. In the season-opening win over TCU on the road, Hunter had 11 catches for 119 yards as well as an interception, becoming the first FBS player in more than two decades to have 100 yards receiving and an interception in the same game.