Although injuries are expected in the inherently violent game of football, the University of Colorado seems to have been hit particularly hard so far this season. The team has learned that safety Anthony Perkins and running back Brian Lockridge will miss the rest of the season because of injuries suffered during last weekend’s 26-0 loss to Missouri (via Boulder’s Daily Camera). Perkins’ affliction is the fifth major injury to one of CU’s defensive backs, but at least two (Travis Sandersfeld and Paul Vigo) are expected to return in the coming weeks.

CUBuffs.com points out that subs for the injured players are just some of the changes ahead for this weekend’s game against Baylor University, including a new kicker. Senior Aric Goodman lost his job as the team’s kicker after missing a field goal during the Missouri game, and junior transfer Marcus Kirkwood, a former soccer player with very little football experience before 2009, will take over for now.

Meanwhile, CU’s football program is in the news for other unpleasant reasons. In a story for Sports Illustrated, former NFL player agent Josh Luchs claims he’s defied NCAA rules by paying dozens of college players, inducing them to sign with him as they entered the NFL. The list includes members of several CU teams from the ’90s. The article claims such NCAA violations are the norm, and the players who don’t take or ask for money are the exception. Luchs says he paid CU’s Kanavis McGhee (linebacker, 1987-90); Joel Steed (nose tackle, 1988-91); and safety Greg Thomas (1988-91) (via The Denver Post).

The school’s associate athletic director of sports information tells the Post CU thinks Luchs’ claims are a “total fabrication,” but the school will look into them nonetheless. Legendary coach Bill McCartney also weighs in, telling the Post through a school-issued statement that he’d never heard anything about such payoffs and that he can’t really say anything about it “when nothing has surfaced before now.”