Ja'Quinden Jackson, Jaylon Braxton injury updates: Sam Pittman provides latest on Arkansas duo

Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, but the Hogs are expecting him back for this week’s showdown with No. 3 Texas.

Coach Sam Pittman provided a health update on Jackson on Wednesday during an SEC teleconference call.

“He’s healthy. He’s ready to go,” Pittman said. “He’s looked really good in practice and I expect him to go out there and play at full strength and full speed. That’s good to have him back.”

Ja’Quinden Jackson has been a huge part of the Arkansas offense when healthy. In six games and a little change, he has been highly productive.

Jackson has tallied 104 carries for 592 yards and 10 touchdowns, while he has also recorded 11 catches for 125 yards.

Arkansas will need every bit of offense against a high-powered Texas team, and the Utah transfer is certainly capable of providing if he is indeed fully healthy again.

Sam Pittman provides Jaylon Braxton update

While Ja’Quinden Jackson is probably the most meaningful injury to monitor for Arkansas heading into the Texas game, he’s not the only one.

The Hogs had hoped to get back defensive back Jaylon Braxton at some point, but it likely won’t be this week.

“I think Jaylon Braxton’s out. I don’t think he’ll be available,” Pittman said. “But we have had really good competition back there. I’m not ready to say publicly who we’re going to start, but we have had a wonderful week of preparation, certainly have done a lot more against the pass. We needed that work.”

Unlike with Ja’Quinden Jackson, Arkansas promised to throw open the competition in the secondary during its bye week. To that end, Pittman won’t reveal the team’s plans ahead of time.

“As far as who starts, I’d rather keep that until the gametime,” Pittman said. “But we have had great competition and guys really, we haven’t had any sulking, any pouting, any of that. We’ve had guys trying to, if they have lost their job or were playing two when they were one, they’re certainly trying to get their job back. Been real proud with the attitude of the team with all the changes that we’ve been looking at.”