Ismael Cisse injury update: Sam Pittman doubles down on Arkansas wide receiver's status for 2025

Earlier this month, Arkansas wide receiver Ismael Cisse suffered a wrist injury in the weight room. The injury was initially believed to be season-ending. On Thursday, Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman doubled down on this report.

It’s a significant loss for the Razorbacks. Cisse transferred to Arkansas this offseason after spending two years at Stanford.

Ismael Cisse had a breakout season last year as a redshirt freshman, recording 26 catches for 241 yards and two touchdowns. Cisse logged at least one catch in each of his 12 regular-season appearances. He made five starts for the Cardinal.

Cisse looked like one of the top receivers on the team this spring and had built a strong connection with quarterback Taylen Green. Arkansas needs all of the threats out wide it can find. The team lost its top nine receiving options from last season.

Arkansas is only returning four starters on offense from last season: Taylen Green (QB), Fernando Carmona (LT), Keyshawn Blackstock (RT), E’Marion Harris (RT). Alas, the team reeled in 31 transfers, including Cisse.

Cisse was one of nine receivers Arkansas reeled in via the transfer portal this offseason. Most notably, the Razorbacks secured commitments from former Missouri WR Courtney Crutchfield and former Chattanooga WR O’Mega Blake. In July, Taylen Green raved about Arkansas’ wide receiver room.

“We have a really great group of receivers,” Green said. “Their work ethic jumps off the page to me. It also challenges me too, because they’re asking questions, how they should run a certain route, the depth; I have to coach out there, so that challenges me to be on my P’s and Q’s.

“… There’s so many things that I’ve learned just from spring to even now. I’m excited to do it in the fall.”

Unfortunately for the Razorbacks, not everybody is as confident in Arkansas’ 2025 campaign. Arkansas was picked to finish third from last in the conference by the league’s media.

Arkansas had just three players named All-SEC preseason selections. Despite the outside noise, Sam Pittman believes Arkansas is fielding a solid squad this fall.

“I really do (feel good about depth). I think there’s a difference in what the public may know, what y’all may know at times, and what we know. So, I really do like our depth,” Pittman said . “I think we’ve had more depth than I’ve had since I’ve been here. Therefore, when you have more depth, you have more competition. I really like this team.”