Injury updates on both sides bring questions to Arkansas-Ole Miss matchup
After last week’s college football action, both the Arkansas Razorbacks (2-0, 0-0 SEC) and the Ole Miss Rebels (2-0, 1-0 SEC) have had some injuries that make Saturday’s contest a little unclear.
The Razorbacks lost wide receiver Monte Harrison to a broken foot that could sideline him for the rest of the season, but they could get defensive tackle David Oke back from an injury that kept him out the first two weeks of the season.
Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said Oke will need to practice three days this week to be fully ready to get into action for the first time this season.
“So we’ve got guys that if Oke’s not ready-ready to go, we’ve got guys we feel like will play better,” Pittman said. “Just depends. He needs to practice at least three days this week. He will not today, so we’ll see.”
Redshirt senior linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr. limped off the field late in the game against Arkansas State after a bruise on his quad, but Pittman was optimistic he would be ready to go this weekend.
That same optimism applies to defensive end Phillip Lee, who had a “rib thing” on the same drive that sidelined Sorey.
Ole Miss injury situation
On the other sideline, Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons left the Rebels’ game against Kentucky and had to be helped off the field with an apparent ankle injury, but Lane Kiffin said he should be ready to go Saturday as well.
But that injury muddies things up for Arkansas, which will have to prepare for two different quarterbacks depending on how the week goes.
“Both of them are very talented running the football as well as throwing it,” Pittman said. “So you’re still going to have to have contain…you’re still going to have to have somebody responsible for him.
“So, yes, it would be more difficult if we didn’t know and they played the entire game with No. 6 instead of Simmons or whatever. But we’ll be prepared and we have to prepared for both type of offenses anyway, so we’re going to use a lot of that today getting ready for the Wildcat type situation that they run.”
If Simmons is unable to go, the Hogs will have to face Trinidad Chambliss, a transfer from Division II Ferris State. He didn’t attempt a pass against Kentucky, but recorded three carries for 13 yards.
Chambliss did see action in Week 1 when Ole Miss played Georgia State. He went 4-for-6 through the air for 59 yards and a touchdown.
Prior to his time at Ole Miss, Chambliss led Ferris State to a Division II National Championship, and defeated Harding University out of Searcy to do so. That season, he threw for 2,901 yards and rushed for 1,019.
On top of the quarterback situation, there’s a familiar face who may be able to suit up this weekend. Former Razorback tight end Luke Hasz, who transferred to Ole Miss after last offseason, had been sidelined with an ankle injury.
Kiffin told reporters on Monday that the Bixby, Oklahoma, native will play this week.
“He’s been working real hard,” Kiffin said. “We’ll know in the next couple days.”
The Razorbacks and Rebels will face off under lights at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium in Oxford, Mississippi on Saturday night. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CT and the game will air on ESPN.
