Sam Pittman provides long list of injury updates as Arkansas exits bye week

Coming off of a bye week, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman provided several injury updates on severely banged up Razorbacks team heading into Week 9 against Auburn. Pittman began with news on a few key members of the secondary, confirming Khari Johnson will be ready to play while adding that he is hopeful about a couple of others.

“We’re gonna look at (Myles) Slusher today in (individual) and see how he can progress or how much better he is,” Pittman said in his Monday press conference. “We feel like he’s gonna be fine. Khari will be back and hopefully we can get Malik (Chavis) back no later than tomorrow. Hopefully (Latavious) Brini‘s ankle that’s been bothering him for five or six weeks now, hopefully it’s healed. We’ll know a little bit more about that.”

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Slusher has not played since Week 5 against Alabama when he suffered a calf injury. Chavis left early with injury in Week 7 against BYU, while Brini simply rested during the bye but has yet to miss a game this season. All three will be needed for a Razorback secondary that already lost Jalen Catalon and LaDarrius Bishop to season-ending injuries.

Pittman also provided injury updates on a couple of Arkansas offensive lineman and noted the off week provided a chance at rest for his linebackers as well.

“Marcus Henderson will be one of the guys that probably won’t be ready early in the week. Hopefully later. He had a high ankle sprain. We’re getting (Ty’Kieast) Crawford back today. Bumper (Pool) feels better and Drew Sanders feels better, so I think we did the right thing. Obviously we’ll wait on Saturday to see if it was the right call or not, but we feel like it is.”

Later in his press conference, Pittman mentioned that receiver Jadon Haselwood and quarterback KJ Jefferson also did not practice during the bye week. Both are dealing with shoulder injuries, but should be available to play Saturday.

However, Pittman also added that Haselwood will continue wearing a green non-contact jersey in practice this week.

“It was his shoulder,” Pittman said. “I think it’ll be a nagging thing with him probably throughout the year. However, I think he feels a lot better. But we’ll probably still have him in the green at practice. (Jefferson) didn’t throw the football last week. I can’t remember the game. I want to say it might’ve been going into A&M on Thursday. Threw a ball and didn’t finish practice. It’s been nagging him a bit so we decided not to throw him in last week. I anticipate him being ready to go.”

Arkansas is 4-3 so far this season, and will hope to get healthy as it looks to improve upon that record over the final five games. The Razorbacks will kick off against Auburn at 11 a.m. CT Saturday on the road.