Razorbacks report

FAYETTEVILLE — Adams expects to play

Inside receiver Joe Adams returned to practice Tuesday after sitting out Arkansas’ 49-14 victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday with a sprained ankle.

Adams said he sustained a high ankle sprain on an uncalled horse collar tackle against Ole Miss.

Now the junior is “about 80” percent healthy, but he expects to be ready to play at South Carolina on Saturday, just as the Razorbacks deal with a season-ending injury to fellow receiver Greg Childs.

Adams said his return is “very important just to help keep guys going and make sure our offense stays on pace.”

Adams is the team’s second-leading receiver behind Childs with 544 receiving yards and four touchdowns.

Personnel report

Defensive tackle D.D.

Jones, who was suspended last week after his arrest for misdemeanor marijuana possession, returned to practice Tuesday and would seem on track to play Saturday.

Jones did not return to the first unit, however,where Lavunce Askew and Alfred Davis worked at the starting tackle spots.

The defensive tackle rotation was without freshman Byran Jones, who sustained a sprained ankle Saturday on what Coach Bobby Petrino termed “a dirty play” by Vanderbilt guard Kyle Fischer.

Fischer disagreed with Petrino’s assessment.

“It looked like a clean block on film,” Fischer told The Tennessean on Tuesday.

“The referees didn’t throw a flag. Once again, it was unfortunate that [Jones] got hurt, but I didn’t consider it dirty.”

Vandy responds

Arkansas and Vanderbilt have played fewer games than any other head-to-head matchup in the SEC, but the teams reacted to last week’s game like bitter rivals.

Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino objected to what he called a dirty play that injured defensive tackle Byran Jones.

The Commodores complained that two college-aged ball boys required protection on the Arkansas sideline after an incident. Vanderbilt equipment manager Luke Wyatt told The Tennessean that he contacted state troopers at halftime to provide assistance after claims that the ball boys were verbally abused and physically pushed by a member of Arkansas’ support staff during the first half.

Arkansas athletic department officials said the first they heard of the incident was in seeing the story on The Tennesseean’s website.

In response to a request from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said: “I have not been contacted by anyone from Vanderbilt University regarding any aspect of last weekend’s game and our staff is not aware of any sideline issues. If, at any time, an issue arises involving another institution, we will work directly with the appropriate officials at the institution to address the matter in a professional manner.” Filling in

Arkansas’ offensive figures of 1,585 yards and 130 points the past three weeks - an average of 528 yards and 43.3 points per game against Auburn, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt - are easily the best three-week stretch this season.

They also represent the best three-game run for the Razorbacks in SEC play under Coach Bobby Petrino and the second-best overall since his arrival, following a stretch against Eastern Michigan, South Carolina and Troy last year in which the Hogs had 1,586 yards and 152 points for an average of 529 yards and 50.7 points.

That the Razorbacks have done the offensive damage despite injuries to quarterback Ryan Mallett and receivers Joe Adams and Greg Childs during the stretch speaks to Arkansas’ development of talent.

“We have depth in the offense and we have players that have stepped in and are ready to make plays,” said receiver Jarius Wright, who had two touchdowns last week. “We have people waiting their turn to play ... and people went down - Greg Childs and Joe Adams - and Mallett still throws for 400 yards.”