FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas receiver Keon Hatcher underwent surgery on Monday to repair a bone in his foot and will be out at least six weeks, Coach Bret Bielema said at his weekly news conference.
Hatcher, hurt late in Arkansas' 16-12 loss to Toledo, will join fellow senior Jonathan Williams as two of the Razorbacks' top playmakers to be lost to injury.
"It's real tough," offensive coordinator Dan Enos said. "I feel so bad for Keon. First and foremost, what a great young man. He's just done a tremendous job since I walked in here of leading this team, making plays."
Hatcher was the target on the Razorbacks' final pass play against the Rockets, but he was playing through pain at game's end.
"A tough guy, a tough guy that puts his team first and wants to help his team win but I really, really have a ton of respect for him," Enos said.
Hatcher's injury was the most severe among many for Arkansas in the loss in Little Rock that sent the Razorbacks tumbling out of both national polls.
Offensive tackle Denver Kirkland, who came out on Arkansas' final drive with a right arm injury, is expected to return for Saturday's 6 p.m. game against Texas Tech.
"He was really sore but indicators are if we don't get him for [Tuesday's] practice, he should be involved in Wednesday, Thursday and be ready to go by Saturday," Bielema said.
Fullback Kody Walker, held out of the second half against Toledo after suffering a badly jammed thumb, is also expected to return this week.
Bielema said linebacker Josh Williams (shin bruise) and safety Josh Liddell (right thigh) are both expected to be ready by Saturday. Williams got kicked in the shin and Liddell was injured by a cut block.
Eric Hawkins, who took two heavy hits on his kickoff return in the final minute and had to be carted off on a stretcher, said via social media he was doing much better.
"I don't know if he'll be able to go in the middle of this week, but expect him to go by Saturday," Bielema said, while indicating Jared Cornelius and Jojo Robinson would probably handle kickoff returns on Saturday.
Hatcher's injury leaves Arkansas without its top pass catcher from 2014 as well as Williams, its top rusher. Hatcher, a senior from Owasso, Okla., led Arkansas with 43 catches for 558 yards and 6 touchdowns last season, and is the current team leader with 13 receptions for 198 yards and 2 touchdowns.
Bielema said the best-case projection for Hatcher's return, around the Oct. 31 game against Tennessee-Martin or the following week at Ole Miss, gives Hatcher some options.
"Keon obviously has a redshirt year," Bielema said. "I was sitting with him and J-Will yesterday [Sunday]. They're both sitting on their little scooters and can't believe that there's two of our premier players are sitting here with some significant foot injuries. But it is what it is."
Bielema said he and Enos and receivers coach Michael Smith determined Drew Morgan would move from the slot into Hatcher's starting role at the "X" wideout spot and that redshirt freshman Jojo Robinson would move onto the first team at slot with Cornelius handling the "Z" wideout starting role.
"By far we thought Jared and Drew were our best two, so those guys will start at X and Z," Bielema said. "The guy we really want to get involved and say, 'Hey, you're getting in the game, and no more where are we going to work him in and how are we going to work him in' is Jojo Robinson."
Robinson was suspended for the season opener and played sparingly last week without making a catch.
Sports on 09/15/2015