FAYETTEVILLE — Auburn senior middle linebacker K.J. Britt will undergo surgery Friday to repair torn ligaments in his right thumb, according to AL.com.
Citing unnamed sources, multiple Alabama media outlets reported Thursday that Britt will have the operation. Auburn has not officially confirmed the reporting.
Britt was injured during the Tigers' 27-6 loss to Georgia last week. He is Auburn's leading tackler this season with 23 stops through two games.
"K.J. Britt, in my opinion, is one heck of a football player," Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said Thursday. "That would be very disappointing for Auburn and for us. We want their good players to play and things of that nature. But if not, I’m sure they have guys, you know (Wesley) Steiner is his backup, so I’m sure he’ll be ready to play.
"But that’s sad news. It really is, because K.J. is a really good player and a really good person."
As a junior in 2019, Britt was All-SEC when he recorded 69 tackles, including 10 for loss.
Britt was one of several Auburn starters who were questionable for the Arkansas game entering the week. Receivers Seth Williams and Eli Stove were injured at Georgia, and running back Shaun Shivers and cornerback Jaylin Simpson were held out of the game.
Auburn coach Gus Malzahn said earlier this week he hopes to have Simpson back for the Arkansas game, and on Wednesday said Shivers and Stove were questionable.
The status of Williams is unknown. He played the entire Georgia game, but was visibly shaken up on the TV broadcast. Williams had four catches for 90 yards, and touchdowns of 48 and 15 yards at Arkansas last season.