FAYETTEVILLE — In media availabilities toward the end of Arkansas’ preseason practices last week, Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman mentioned several times that his team was a bit beat up.
Among those with undisclosed injuries were projected starting left guard Brady Latham and wide receiver Jadon Haselwood, an Oklahoma transfer who is expected to be one of Arkansas’ top playmakers this fall. They were not present at multiple practices last week.
During his Monday press conference previewing Saturday’s season opener against Cincinnati in Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Pittman spoke optimistically about their outlook.
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“We expect both of those guys to be back in practice, maybe as soon as this afternoon,” he said. “Certainly we feel like they’ll be ready for Saturday.”
Latham and Haselwood were present at practice Monday afternoon.
Last Thursday, the first day of preparations for the Bearcats, Pittman said the staff’s goal was for Latham and Haselwood to return to practice “no later than Monday, but of course we just have to wait and see on that.”
He was of the belief then that Latham could have been involved in team activities, but rest and recovery was a priority.
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Running back Dominique Johnson (knee), who returned to the practice field Aug. 22 for individual drills in a green no-contact jersey, is not expected to play against Cincinnati. But his workload will increase this week, Pittman said.
He ran for 575 yards and led the team with seven rushing touchdowns in 2021. Johnson averaged 5.93 yards per carry, best among running backs.
“I think we need to do some cutting with him where we’re not telling him (where to go),” Pittman said. “In other words, go to that cone and take a right, go to this cone and take a left. I think we’ve got to do some things where he’s catching a ball out of the backfield. I don’t want him involved in the possibility where there’s guys on the ground; not the first day. We’ll try to progress that.
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“I don’t know if he’ll be ready this week, but I sure would hope he’d be ready by South Carolina. I don’t know that. We’ll know a little bit more after we see him in practice.”
Pittman added that offensive lineman Marcus Henderson was "a little behind" left tackle Andrew Chamblee, center Patrick Kutas and right guard E’Marion Harris – all second teamers on the Week 1 depth chart – entering Monday's practice due to a pectoral injury.
He also anticipated getting offensive lineman Devon Manuel back "a little bit" on Monday, and Manuel was in uniform.