Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson will miss an indefinite amount of action after suffering a bowel injury Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe.
The junior will miss the Georgia game and Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said there is no timetable for his return. Johnson was injured when he fell on the ball at the end of a 28-yard kick-off return at the start of the second half in the Hogs’ 31-7 win over the Warhawks. He had surgery in Little Rock.
“(I’m) very, very concerned about Dennis,” Petrino said. “He had an internal injury that did require surgery. We’re not even thinking about timetables for his return; we’re just thinking about his health. He’s doing well. He’s walking; he’s very sore from the surgery, but we’re encouraged by everything the doctor’s are telling us.”
Johnson initially thought he injured his ribs, Petrino said.
“When we were out on the field and he was in the locker room at the end of the game, he started throwing up and they knew it wasn’t a rib injury and got him to the hospital,” Petrino said. “We’re just happy that he’s doing well and he was so taken care of at the time.”
Without Johnson, the Razorbacks will lean more heavily on their three remaining running backs, junior Broderick Green and sophomores Ronnie Wingo and Knile Davis. Senior fullback Van Stumon and junior receiver De’Anthony Curtis will also get additional repetitions at running back, Petrino said.
“We’ve got three guys that will rotate and play a lot,” Petrino said. “We might have to have De’Anthony Curtis know both the W-receiver and running back and get some reps at it. De’Anthony is very smart and understands the total offense. He’s played back there and made plays from in the backfield. Van Stumon is a guy that can play both fullback and tailback. He would love to play tailback a lot – he thinks he’s a runner.
Johnson gained 83 yards on just nine carries in the Hogs’ first two contests. The 5-foot-9, 213-pounder emerged as the Razorbacks’ go-to back against top competition the past two seasons, gaining 107 yards at No. 1 Florida last year and rushing for 127 yards and one touchdown against LSU as a freshman.
The Razorbacks will also have to find a kick returner to replace Johnson. Freshman receiver Maudrecus Humphrey, sophomore receiver Cobi Hamilton, freshman cornerback Eric Bennett and running backs Broderick Green and Ronnie Wingo will each work at kick returner in practice this week, Petrino said.
“Maudrecus has been the one that’s taken as many (reps) as Dennis in practice,” Petrino said.