FAYETTEVILLE — A little more than a week from the start of the season, Arkansas is down another wide receiver.
Sophomore D'Arthur Cowan recently broke his foot in practice, Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema said Wednesday prior to a speaking engagement at the Little Rock Touchdown Club. Cowan underwent surgery Monday and will miss 6 to 8 weeks while recovering.
As a freshman, the Olive Branch, Miss. native played in six games. He caught just three passes for 14 yards, but became one of the team's top kickoff returners by the end of the year, averaging 17.6 yards per return. Bielema said the injury was suffered during a return drill in practice.
Cowan is Arkansas' second wide receiver to go down with a serious injury in the last week. Senior Demetrius Wilson will have season-ending surgery this week to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
The injuries indicate Arkansas will have to use multiple underclassmen early in the season to provide depth at receiver, where only six scholarship players remain healthy entering Wednesday's practice. Freshmen Drew Morgan and Melvinson Hartfield have drawn good reviews from coaches during the closed practices.
Arkansas was already down one player at the position prior to the injuries. Mekale McKay, who would have been the team's leading returning receiver, transferred to Cincinnati earlier this month.
Linebacker Otha Peters (arm) and tight end Austin Tate (shoulder) were also injured last week and are expected to miss multiple games.