Sam Pittman provides update on Jalen Catalon injury, out for the season

The Arkansas Razorbacks received devastating news regarding the injury status of safety Jalen Catalon, as coach Sam Pittman explained. Catalon, fresh off of being named a captain for the Razorbacks this year, suffered an injury in the first game of the season against Cincinnati.

On Saturday, Pittman confirmed that Catalon will have reconstructive surgery on his shoulder and will not play this season.

Sam Pittman reveals Jalen Catalon out for season

“Sam Pittman confirms it: ‘Jalen Catalon is having reconstruction surgery on his shoulder and is done for the year. He’s really down and I’m down for him,'” explained The Red Zone‘s Josh Bertaccini.

CLICK HERE to subscribe for FREE to the On3 YouTube channel

A shoulder injury that knocked him out last season caused him to return to Arkansas instead of heading straight to the NFL. The 5-foot-10, 200-pound safety had only allowed 7 catches from 14 targets for 59 yards in the six games he played last season.

Over the past two years, Catalon has been one of the most productive defensive backs on the Razorbacks roster — totaling 145 total tackles, eight pass deflections and five interceptions.

The loss of Catalon again is even harder to imagine after hearing his teammates like Sam Pittman praise his return and share their excitement for him to be playing on the field — prior to his latest injury.

“I’m excited for him, I’m excited for the team, but it’s hard on the guy who’s played a lot of ball,” Pittman said before of his return to action. “And he’s sitting out, and we’re having one of our better, well, our best year since he’s been here. He wasn’t an on the field participant in seven of the games, I’m sure that’s that’s very, very hard for him.

“So, I think anytime you lose something, it even becomes more special when you get it back, or you have a chance to earn it back, or whatever may be the case. I think he’s really excited to play, he’s played extremely well and we’ll see what happens.”