Ja'Quinden Jackson, Rodney Hill injury updates: Sam Pittman shares early statuses on Arkansas RBs

A pair of Arkansas running backs are injured entering Week 9 and a road matchup at Mississippi State, and with very different outlooks on the week of practice, according to head coach Sam Pittman.

With the first SEC injury reports of the week scheduled to be released on Wednesday evening, Pittman updated the statuses of tailbacks Ja’Quinden Jackson and Rodney Hill on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday morning. As of the middle of the week, Pittman said, one is far closer to playing than the other.

I would say, probably coming out tonight on the injury report, I would say that Ja’Quinden would be questionable — doubtful, doubtful,” Pittman said, correcting himself quickly. “And Rodney would be probable.”

Jackson re-aggravated an ankle injury in a loss to LSU over the weekend, and Pittman said on Monday that it would somewhat of a long shot for Jackson to play.

“[Ja’Quinden’s] been beat up, basically, in SEC play,” Pittman said. “We haven’t rushed the ball well. He’s been beat up a little bit there. Early in the year, he was exceptional when he was healthy.”

Hill has been working back from a concussion and hasn’t played since the end of September. Getting one of him and/or Jackson back would obviously be a big boost for an Arkansas team that’s scrapping to be a middle-of-the-pack-or-better team down the stretch in the SEC this season.

Arkansas’ opponent is set to be down a key player on offense

Mississippi State will be without standout freshman wide receiver Mario Craver against Arkansas Saturday, due to a lower body injury, according to CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz.

So far this season, Craver has 16 catches for 355 yards, three touchdowns and 22.2 yards per catch. He had a season high five catches against Texas A&M last weekend, going for 42 yards and a touchdown, his first since September 14th.

As a member of the Class of 2024, Craver was a four-star recruit out of Pinson (Ala.) Clay-Chalkville, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 17 overall prospect in the state, the No. 46 wide receiver in the class and the No. 279 overall prospect in the class.