UPDATE (1:42 p.m.): Junior cornerback Isaac Madison is out for the season with a torn ACL. We just got it confirmed through the UA. Madison suffered the injury early in the Saturday scrimmage. That makes two players out for the season with injuries on the new turf inside Razorback Stadium. TE Chris Gragg suffered an ankle injury that required surgery last week and is out for the year.
Original observations from today are below:
—–
London Crawford came up hurt early in the Saturday scrimmage and did not practice with the team this morning. Crawford was in the area reserved for the walking injured today, tossing medicine balls, doing push ups and riding the stationary bike.
With his absence, freshman wide receiver Cobi Hamilton has been getting a lot of work. Hamilton saw time with the first, second and third teams. He’s also working on punt and kickoff return. He got a bit tired near the end of practice today and fumbled a kickoff return attempt.
— The big talk at practice today was the status of CB Isaac Madison. The first-team corner was hurt early in the Saturday scrimmage and never returned. He was not at practice today and assistant coach Paul Petrino did not offer any news on the junior’s status. Defensive coaches were off limits today.
“I’m not exactly sure,” Petrino said. He later offered, “All of our prayers are out there with him. I hope it’s OK. I’m not exactly sure how bad it is.”
Sophomore Greg Gatson, who replaced Madison Saturday after the injury, continued to work with the first-team defense today and had an interception in 7-on-7 drills, picking off a Tyler Wilson pass.
— Sophomore Grant Freeman has been getting work at left tackle in place of starter Ray Dominguez, who suffered a minor leg injury last week.
— Freshman QB Brandon Mitchell was back at practice today after missing last week due to a death in his family.
— QB Ryan Mallett believed the team came out sluggish after a day off, but said the tempo picked up near the end of practice. Mallett and Tyler Wilson looked sharp on the field, but several receivers dropped balls.
THE WALKING INJURED
— Linebacker Ryan Powers, who was not at the scrimmage Saturday, was back at practice today. … In addition to Crawford, tight end Joseph Henry and DL Alfred Davis, at times, was working in the injured area.
I know it’s an “occupational hazard”, but I hate to see any of these kids go down. As with Gragg, Madison will be missed. Hopefully, LC and everyone else will be okay.
Didn’t the Hogs replace the astroturf several years ago with natural grass to cut down on injuries? Now we have gone back to turf. Is this modern version of astroturf more forgiving when a player cuts hard or is the turf responsible for some of these injuries?
this turf is supposed to be far like the real deal and actually has some bounce to it. I do not think the new turf is to blame for the injuries.