DENVER (AP) — Deion Sanders refuses to look too far down the road and especially not in regard to how his recent health concerns might impact any decision on returning as Colorado's coach next season or beyond.

All he's focused on at the moment is bouncing back from the Buffaloes' 53-7 loss at Utah last weekend.

"I’m a one day at a time type of guy,” Sanders said Monday in an interview with The Associated Press. "We've got to win. That’s the only thing I’m worried about. My health is wonderful. I’m good. I’m not thinking about anything but winning.”

Sanders knows there are those concerned about his well-being — friends, even fans, reach out — and how coaching may be unduly taxing him. Nearly three weeks ago, he underwent a procedure to help alleviate blood clots in his leg. This after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of bladder cancer in the spring.

"I’m going to coach until I don’t have that urge to get up in the morning and go get it and go help and go be a blessing,” said Sanders, who signed a five-year, $54 million extension last March.

He appreciates all the concern, though.

“My health is not going to increase sitting on the lake fishing,” Sanders said. "My health is not going increase sitting at my property in Texas, having a good time or sitting back, drinking some sweet iced teas and eating some honey buns and watching television.

“I’m not damaging or putting my health at risk by doing what I’m doing. Matter of fact, it’s enhancing my health, doing the things I do."

The 58-year-old was in pain during a 35-21 loss at TCU on Oct. 4, alternating between sitting and limping along the sideline with his leg throbbing. A few days later he had a procedure related to blood clots. He didn't even miss practice the next day.

Sanders also dealt with blood clot issues while coaching at Jackson State in 2021, with doctors amputating two of the toes on his left foot.

These days, Sanders repeatedly stresses the importance of early detection in light of his bladder cancer. He had surgery nearly six months ago as doctors removed his bladder and reconstructed a section of his intestine to function as a bladder.

He's stressing the importance of mental health, too. Asked what his low point was after being diagnosed with bladder cancer, he responded: “I don’t hit bottoms. I hit tops, man.”

"My head’s always up,” Sanders added as he made the rounds for RESTORE Hair, a hair restoration company in which he’s an ambassador. "My head ain’t never down. I’m not structured like that. So I don’t have those type of rock-bottom moments.”

For support, he's relied on friends and, of course, family.

His oldest daughter, Deiondra, had a baby, making him a grandfather, while his youngest daughter, Shelomi, is playing basketball at Alabama A&M.

His son, Shilo, a safety who was waived by Tampa Bay in August, is “into the internet and YouTube and everything he has going on,” his father said. His youngest son, Shedeur, a rookie QB for the Cleveland Browns is, “waiting on his opportunity,” he said, while his oldest son, Deion Jr., chronicles the Buffaloes through his social media company “Well Off Media.”

“My kids are great,” Deion Sanders said.

Same goes for how he's feeling.

“I’m great,” said Sanders, whose Buffaloes (3-5, 1-4 Big 12) play Arizona (4-3, 1-3) on Saturday. “I’m not great right now mentally because we just got our butts kicked. But I’ll be OK by Friday.”

Sanders is learning the importance of compartmentalizing all facets of life, including football.

“I don’t get too high and I never get too low,” said Sanders, who played Major League Baseball while also embarking on a Hall of Fame football career. "I have the baseball player’s mentality. Football players, you could bask in the glory for six days when you win, or you have to suffer the consequences for six days if you lose.

“But a baseball player, you must line up every day.”

Broncos' blowout win over Cowboys marred by Pat Surtain II's strained pec that will sideline him

DENVER (AP) — The Denver Broncos' blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys proved costly with two All-Pros getting hurt, including reigning Defensive Player of the Year Pat Surtain II, who's week to week with a strained left pectoral muscle.

Surtain left the Broncos' 44-24 win over Dallas just before halftime and didn't return for the second half. Also, kick returner Marvin Mims Jr. suffered a concussion on a runback when he was no longer supposed to be in the game.

Surtain’s left arm and shoulder twisted awkwardly on a tackle of George Pickens as he tried to pull the receiver to the ground after a 7-yard reception with 22 seconds left before halftime.

Surtain, who also injured his lower right leg in the first quarter, underwent an MRI on Monday that revealed there wasn't a more serious tear that could have sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Surtain is the fulcrum of Denver's stingy defense. He's missed two games in his career and an absence of any sort could be a big blow to Vance Joseph's unit.

“Obviously, we hope he's healthy,” linebacker Justin Strnad said. “He's a big part of what we do."

Mims, who has also emerged as an offensive playmaker, suffered a head injury at the end of a 26-yard kickoff return in the waning minutes of the game and will have to clear the concussion protocol in order to play at Houston next weekend.

Asked about the wisdom of having Mims still in the game with a 20-point late lead, coach Sean Payton acknowledged it was a mistake.

"We made a substitution. I know ‘Riz’ (special teams coordinator/assistant head coach Darren Rizzi) was trying to send in Tyler (Badie) in for Marvin. Somehow, the communication failed. Tyler went in for RJ (Harvey), but fair question. Right at that stage of the game, you’re trying to be smart,” Payton said.

What’s working

Denver's offense has produced 77 points over the last five quarters with 10 touchdowns, two field goals, two punts and an interception. That has finally taken some heat off Denver's dominant defense, which kept the league's top offense in check Sunday.

“I’m proud of our defense,” edge rusher Jonathon Cooper said. “I’m proud of how everybody showed up. Definitely a statement win for us.”

As for Denver's emerging offense, “We still haven’t scratched the surface of what we can do, but we kind of saw it today,” running back J.K. Dobbins said after posting his second 100-yard game of the season Sunday.

What needs help

The Broncos can't shake their penalty problem. They were whistled a dozen times Sunday with seven accepted penalties totaling 42 yards. For the season, they've been flagged an NFL-high 85 times for an average of 10.6 infractions per game.

Stock up

Bo Nix has found a nice rhythm the last two weeks. He threw for four touchdowns Sunday after becoming the first QB in league history to run and throw for multiple scores in a fourth quarter last week against the Giants.

One of his TD throws Sunday was an over-the-shoulder toss to rookie Pat Bryant for his first career score.

“It was amazing,” Bryant said. “I just wanted to make sure that I got the Mile High Salute in. Especially with the throwbacks, I’ve been hearing it a lot this week.”

Stock down

Rizzi's special teams units, again. This time, the blunder was a wrong substitution.

Injuries

In addition to Surtain and Mims, TE Nate Adkins (knee) got hurt Sunday.

Key stats

Denver’s 44 points were the most by the club since a 45-point outburst at Arizona on Oct. 18, 2018.

Harvey's three TDs Sunday made him the first Broncos rookie since RB Clinton Portis in 2002 to score at least three touchdowns in a game.

The Broncos are the first team in NFL history to eclipse 35 sacks within the first eight games of a season while allowing fewer than 10 sacks in that span.

Next steps

The Broncos visit the Houston Texans (3-4), who are coming off a 26-15 win over the San Francisco 49ers.

“Coach liked our week of practice,” Nix said. “We all thought the urgency was up. We have to go stack weeks and have a similar vibe this week and make sure that we are practicing hard Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, so we can come out here and do that performance over and over.”