Sam Pittman confirms Rocket Sanders will not play vs. Mississippi State, uncertain on remainder of season

Arkansas running back Raheim “Rocket” Sanders will not play on Saturday against Mississippi State, coach Sam Pittman revealed Monday. It will be the fifth game that Sanders has missed this season as he struggles to overcome a knee injury he suffered in the season opener.

Additionally, it is the second straight contest Sanders will sit out after he did not travel with the team to Tuscaloosa to play Alabama in Week 7. Asked if Sanders will return at all this season, Pittman explained that he was unsure.

“I don’t know, I really don’t,” he said. “He’s not gonna play Saturday, but I really don’t know. It just depends on how he feels and the progression of his rehab.”

Sanders sat out three straight games after suffering the injury in the season opener before returning in Week 5 against Texas A&M. He went on to total 49 yards on 19 carries over the next two games before apparently suffering a setback that caused him to miss last week and will keep him out Week 8 as well.

Sanders’ absence has been a big blow to Arkansas this season as the Razorbacks are 2-5, including 0-4 in SEC play. The running back was expected to be a key piece of the offense after breaking out for 1,443 yards and 10 touchdowns along with 28 catches for 271 yards and two scores last year. However, due to playing just three games, he has yet to reach 100 yards on the season in 2023.

As a result, Arkansas has gone from ranking second in the SEC with 236.7 yards rushing per game in 2022 to ranking 12th with just 109.9 this season. Last week against the Crimson Tide, the Razorbacks managed just 100 yards on the ground for an average of 2.8 yards per carry.

With Rocket Sanders sidelined, Arkansas has turned to the duo of AJ Green and Rashod Dubinion to carry the load in the backfield. Green currently leads the team with 239 yards and two touchdowns on 38 carries (6.3 yards per carry). However, Dubinion has received more touches than Green with 65 carries for 213 yards and a touchdown.

Quarterback KJ Jefferson actually leads the team in rushing attempts with 96, but has turned that into just 162 yards and a touchdown.

Arkansas will hope it can get the rushing game going against Mississippi State, which is also still in search of its first conference win. The Bulldogs and Razorbacks are set to kick off at noon ET on Saturday in Fayetteville.