Arkansas' walking wounded get break Saturday

Arkansas running backs Rawleigh Williams and Devwah Whaley go through drills Saturday, Aug. 20, 2016, at Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville. Whaley wore a green no-contact jersey because of a shoulder injury.

— Those who were limited and held out of Arkansas' scrimmage Saturday were almost as notable as those who practiced.

Among those held out with injuries were wide receiver Dominique Reed, quarterback Rafe Peavey, cornerback DJ Dean, running backs Kody Walker and TJ Hammonds, offensive linemen Paul Ramirez and Jalen Merrick, tight ends C.J. O’Grady and Austin Cantrell, and safety Micahh Smith.

Players limited to wearing green shirts and not tackled were tailback Devwah Whaley, tight end Anthony Antwine and receiver Keon Hatcher.

Standout defensive end Deatrich Wise also missed the scrimmage because he was in Texas at his grandfather's funeral.

Saturday scrimmage links

http://www.wholehog…">Freshmen QBs get work in Peavey's absence

http://www.wholehog…">Injured players get light day

http://www.wholehog…">Offensive line taking shape

http://www.wholehog…">Observations and notes

http://www.wholehog…">Unofficial stats

http://www.wholehog…">Depth chart

Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema did not allow the first-team defense to tackle or allow the first-team offense to be taken to the ground.

“The wraps and rolls, you always worry about when we get going against each other, a lot of times our sideline a tackle can turn into a roll that can be very, very dangerous,” Bielema said. “Not so much for the player involved in the tackle or the player that's getting tackled.

“A lot of times it's the roll into some standing there. I just felt with where we were at, to stay fresh and be where we need to be … We got tackling in four different times during practice where we went to the ground and tackled in addition to last Saturday. So I just didn't really feel we needed it.”

Also factoring in was how well the Razorbacks defense tackled in the previous Saturday’s scrimmage.

“Defensively just really we didn’t want to tackle with the ones partly because of how they played last week,” Bielema said. “I thought our ones tackled so well and efficiently last week. They are getting lined up and because of the injury status of a couple of offensive players that’s why we didn’t go tackle football with those guys. But they have been really locked in."

Bielema made clear that he would not be scrimmaging next Saturday as he attempts to get to the season opener against visiting Louisiana Tech on Sept. 3 with his team as healthy as it can be.

“Next Saturday I've got a little exercise for our guys, but it's all going to be mental," Bielema said. "I've never scrimmaged the Saturday before our opening game. It's just something I believe in.”

It was thought that Dean might redshirt - even though he is a senior - when he first got hurt, but that is off the table now since cornerback Britto Tutt suffered a season-ending knee injury going up for an interception in the end zone earlier this week. Bielema said earlier this week that Dean may miss the team's first game, but that isn't the case anymore.

“Yeah, it’s not as significant,” Bielema said of Dean’s hamstring injury. “He’s come back very, very well, responded well.

"If he can get out there some time next week, we can play him that first game.”

Dean actually got back to practice on Friday, but was held out of the scrimmage.

“He's out there running," Bielema said. "He's in the tub today, running full-go. I think Sunday I'll get him out and run him around a little bit and Tuesday he'll be back with us.”

Hammonds (meniscus) and Reed (ankle) are also expected back next week. Hammonds underwent surgery earlier this week, but coaches have not decided whether he will redshirt.

“Hammonds started running in the pool a couple of days ago and we expect him to probably be back with us on Tuesday,” Bielema said. “It looks really good.

“Dominique Reed has joined that category as well. His swelling went down pretty fast. He has really done a great job in rehab. I appreciate the effort those guys have made off the field. I think Dominique will join us some time Tuesday or Wednesday next week and should be good to go by game week.

“We will see exactly where they are at.”

Whaley, Hatcher and Antwine are all dealing with minor shoulder soreness.

“Devwah, we didn't think he could go today in a full-live scrimmage tackle football and that is why we kept him in a green,” Bielema said.

“Same thing we Keon, just wanted to keep him healthy and get him through next week and into a healthy game week so we kept him in a green jersey.

“Same thing with Anthony Antwine. Those were guys that had little shoulder injuries that hadn’t kept them out, but we didn’t want them to go tackle football today. So we did that.”

Smith could be out for game one, but that is left to be determined.

"Micahh on Wednesday had a small meniscus tear that he probably did maybe in high school,” Bielema said. "It kind of slid to a spot that needed surgery so we had that the other day.

“He will actually probably join us game week. He might be a redshirt guy. We’ll see how fast that heals up.”

Arkansas has two players out for the year. Cornerback Britto Tutt and receiver Kofi Boateng both suffered ACL tears this preseason.

Tutt has four years to play three while Boateng is a true freshman with five to play four.

“It's going to be kind of nice, both of them have a lot of upper-body development, lower-body strengthening they need to do, so I think the good Lord works in a good way. That was a blessing," Bielema said.

Merrick was held out with a concussion. Bielema said he still could factor in at right guard or right tackle.