FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas receiver Jared Cornelius will undergo surgery Monday to repair an Achilles injury suffered in the second half of a loss to Texas A&M over the weekend.
Because the injury occurred so early in the season, Cornelius, a senior, could be able to redshirt and return in 2018, Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said. Cornelius had five receptions for 43 yards in the first three games, including a 6-yard touchdown in the first quarter of the Texas A&M game.
Cornelius was Arkansas' most experienced receiver entering this season and the only with more than two career college receptions. He also was the Razorbacks' most experienced punt returner.
Jonathan Nance, who leads Arkansas with 9 receptions for 200 yards and 2 touchdowns, will start in place of Cornelius.
The Achilles injury is the fourth that has caused Cornelius to miss playing time during his college career. He missed four games with a broken arm as a sophomore in 2015, then missed two games last season for various injuries. A sore back kept him out of the Texas State game last September and he missed the Belk Bowl with a knee injury suffered late in the regular season finale at Missouri.
Another back injury kept Cornelius out of preseason practice and limited him in the team's opener against Florida A&M. Last week, Cornelius said he lost 10 pounds between the TCU and Texas A&M games because of voluntary work he did outside of practice.
Bielema said senior defensive back Kevin Richardson is available for the Razorbacks' game against New Mexico State on Saturday. Richardson missed the Texas A&M game with an ankle injury.