FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Brandon Allen has been cleared to play in the Razorbacks' Southeastern Conference opener against No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday.
Allen practiced all week, according to Arkansas' official Twitter account for football, with no setbacks. Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema also alluded to Allen playing Friday on Twitter.
Bielema had said Thursday Allen had only thrown an air ball - lighter than a regulation football - in practice this week and was held out of the final practice prior to the game against the Aggies. Bielema said Thursday that quarterback AJ Derby had taken first-team reps in practice.
It's unclear whether Allen will start against Texas A&M, but on Twitter, he said "can't wait to join my teammates again tomorrow to start SEC play in front of a great crowd."
Allen has been nursing a bruised shoulder suffered in a Sept. 14 game against Southern Miss. He didn't play last week in the Razorbacks' 28-24 loss at Rutgers.
Bielema said Thursday he expected the quarterback to return by the game next week at Florida and called it "unrealistic" to believe he could return within two weeks of the injury.
In a little more than two full games, Allen has completed 26 of 44 passes for 388 yards and 5 touchdowns this season. He was also intercepted once.
The Razorbacks and Aggies are 3-1 this season. Texas A&M lost its SEC opener to No. 1 Alabama two weeks ago by a score of 49-42.