Sam Pittman updates Jashaud Stewart’s availability in Week 1

As the Arkansas Razorbacks get ready for their 2023 season opener against Western Carolina, they have been doing so without senior defensive lineman Jashaud Stewart. Stewart has been dealing with a lingering ankle injury during fall camp, and it appears as if he will need more time to heal before taking the field.

According to Razorbacks head coach Sam Pittman, the outlook of his veteran defensive lineman playing in their home season opener doesn’t look too promising. Recently, the Arkansas headman addressed Stewart’s injury status for Week 1.

“I don’t know that he’s going to be able to play Saturday, to be perfectly honest with you,” said Pittman. “But yes, it’s (the ankle) just been that nagging him for a while. And I would guess that he’s about 75 to 80 percent.

“To be perfectly honest with you, it doesn’t matter the name of the team we play. I just don’t think it would benefit him or us for him to play at this time on Saturday.”

Last season, Stewart started six games along the Razorbacks defensive line while playing in 10 altogether. The Jonesboro, AR, native finished the year with 14 total tackles, eight solo, 2.5 tackles for loss, and two sacks.

This year, Stewart is expected to play a much more prominent role in Arkansas defense. But unfortunately, according to Pittman, that will have to wait until after Week 1’s contest.

While the news on Stewart’s status was not what fans hoped, Pittman had positive news on another Razorbacks defender. The Arkansas headman says he expects linebacker Antonio Grier to play on Saturday. The USF transfer will be making his Arkansas debut in the near future but has been dealing with a quad injury. If Grier does get onto the field, it will be a huge boost for the defense.

“Yeah, it’s a matter of if he’s going to be healthy enough to play,” Pittman said on Monday. “He did practice on Saturday, not necessarily physically, but he was out there in some 7-on-7s and doing some things.”

Pittman’s update on Grier is more positive than the one provided on Monday. The Arkansas head coach did not sound as optimistic despite the transfer linebacker practicing over the weekend. Everything seems to be trending in the right direction and Grier is going to be able to make his debut against Western Carolina.

On3’s Griffin McVeigh contributed to this story