Arkansas injury updates: Sam Pittman reveals health of Razorback defensive backs

Arkansas faces its highest-ranked opponent of the season this Saturday when they host No. 5 Tennessee in Fayetteville. A game that the Razorbacks would love to be at full strength for as they pursue a signature SEC win.

Starting defensive backs Hudson Clark and Jaylon Braxton both didn’t play in Arkansas’ last game against Texas A&M, a four-point loss they could have made an impact. As head coach Sam Pittman gave an update on the status of his injured players in the secondary ahead of their showdown with the Volunteers.

“I don’t feel great about Braxton, but I feel pretty good about Clark,” Pittman said. “He practiced last week, I believe he could have played if we really needed him to. (Kee’yon) Stewart went down, he was sick, but I didn’t feel real confident with Clark.”

After starting at cornerback for the first two weeks of the season, Braxton has missed the last three games for the Razorbacks with tendonitis and a bone bruise. The former Freshman All-SEC Team member who led the team with eight pass break-ups last season and also recorded 20 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and one interception.

Pittman doesn’t sound optimistic about Braxton returning to the field this Saturday, but does about Clark at safety. Who didn’t play against UAB or Auburn after suffering from a back injury against Oklahoma State.

“Not not that he couldn’t play, I thought he was doing it more for the team than what his body physically could handle,” Pittman explained. “And so we elected not to play him at that point, but I think we just got to get his confidence that he can hit somebody, and I think he’s closer. Obviously a lot closer than he was last week.”

Clark was a game-time decision last week and sounds even more likely to be available this weekend. A redshirt senior in the secondary with plenty of experience that would certainly be valuable against Tennessee’s potent offensive attack.