Arkansas’ offense lost a key moving part while motoring forward during the morning scrimmage start to Wednesday’s two-a-days practice.

De’Anthony Curtis, the true freshman from Camden already running second team at tailback to junior Michael Smith, sprained a knee in Wednesday morning’s scrimmage.

A MRI disclosed “ it’s not a serious injury, ” Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said after the Razorbacks completed Wednesday’s workouts with an afternoon session in shoulder pads and shorts.

However, Curtis might not be practicing again until the week of the Razorbacks’ Aug. 30 season opener against Western Illinois at Reynolds Razorback Stadium.

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“ It’s anywhere up to two weeks, ” Petrino said. “ But he [Curtis ] says he’s definitely going to beat that. Joe Sheehan [Arkansas ’ trainer ] says he’s already ahead of schedule. He’s very eager to be back on the field, but we have to make sure he’s completely healed before we let him get back out. ”

With Smith, “ pretty well established as the lead guy, ” running backs coach Tim Horton said, Horton now evaluates junior Brandon Barnett of Texarkana, just off the injured list, true freshman Dennis Johnson, also of Texarkana, and lone big back Chip Gregory, a redshirt freshman converted from lineback- er as the backups.

Johnson, so fast he’s also figuring on kick returns and as a backup on punt returns to true freshman wide receiver Jarius Wright of Warren, posted the most spectacular play of the group in Wednesday’s scrimmage. Johnson juked freshman safety Jerico Nelson in the open field while scoring on a second-and-15, 29-yard TD pass from senior quarterback Casey Dick.

“ Dennis Johnson really had a good day, ” Horton said. “ He did some good things in the scrimmage, but we are still not as consistent as we need to be. ”

Casey Dick, “ throwing the ball well, ” Petrino said, threw a 54-yard TD pass to London Crawford, with Crawford displaying speed and elusiveness taking a short pass and then leaving defenders in his dust.

Casey Dick completed 15 of 18 for 323 yards. He threw one interception but that pick first deflected off the receiver’s hands before safety Rashaad Johnson snagged it.

True freshman wide receiver Chris Gragg of Warren caught TD passes from Nathan Dick, the No. 2 QB and redshirt freshman brother of Casey Dick, and Greenwood freshman Tyler Wilson.

Senior Alex Mortensen, contesting for No. 2, threw a 9-yard TD to tight end Ben Cleveland of Springdale and embarrassed the first team defense on a third-and-14 situational down by zipping a 30-yard pass to wideout Lucas Miller. Miller caught a 53-yard pass from Casey Dick four plays into the scrimmage.

For two scrimmages, now the offense has dominated the defense.

Defensive coordinator Willy Robinson called last Sunday’s scrimmage “ a step back” after he reviewed the film last Monday.

Defensive ends coach Kirk Botkin offered a similar defensive review of Wednesday morning’s scrimmage immediately after it concluded.

“ The defense has not played well, ” Botkin said. “ We have got to get better everywhere. We need guys to step up to be leaders and just do your job. ”

And hit somebody with authority.

“ We’ve got to be a tougher [defensive ] football team, ” Botkin said. “ Definitely. Everywhere in every position we’ve got to be a tougher football team, but we’ll get it. ”

It wasn’t all bad on defense. Senior defensive end Antwain Robinson netted three quarterback sacks. Cornerback Ramon Broadway picked off a Nathan Dick pass.

Aside from Curtis, injured after opening Wednesday’s scrimmage with a 10-yard run, defensive end Chris Bequette (concussion ) and linebacker

Ryan Powers are among those sidelined by injuries. Junior tight end Andrew Davie, out two days with an injured shoulder, scrimmaged Wednesday.

With 250-plus scrimmage plays and six practices since Sunday, the Razorbacks have been on a hard pace and aren’t backing off soon. Petrino has the Hogs practicing at 9 a. m. today and twice (9 a. m. and 4 p. m. ) Friday in the final scrimmages open to the public leading into Saturday’s closed scrimmage.