By Robbie Neiswanger
Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas quarterback Ryan Mallett has taken another step in his foot rehabilitation.

The Southeastern Conference’s preseason first-team quarterback is running again. At least on a treadmill.

Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino said Thursday before playing in his annual media/car dealer’s golf tournament that Mallett has taken another step closer to returning to the field. Much like last week’s update on Mallett’s condition at SEC Media Days, Petrino said the junior should full speed when the Razorbacks open preseason practice on Aug. 5.

“We do have to be a little bit cautious as we get started just because you don’t want to throw him out there and do too much too early,” Petrino said. “But we do expect it to be healed and ready to go.

“All the reports from the doctors have been great. Thumbs up. We’re right where we need to be and they’re really excited about it as well as I am.”

Petrino said Mallett — who set or tied 16 school records last season and is a preseason Heisman Trophy hopeful — is doing some “controlled” work on the treadmill now and should be full speed next Tuesday.

If so, it would signal the end to a long offseason that included two surgeries and more than five months of rehabilitation. Mallett first broke the foot in mid-February, which caused him to miss Arkansas’ 15 spring practices. He had a pin replaced earlier this summer, too, keeping him off his feet even longer.

Mallett managed to participate in seven-on-seven voluntary passing drills with his foot in a protective boot and remained a vocal and visible presence at Arkansas’ workouts, according to tight end D.J. Williams. Mallett said last week he has even worked on his mechanics, managing to shorten his stride.

But Petrino said Mallett will have more work to do in getting himself back into the offense when preseason practice begins because of the long layoff.

The Razorbacks spent a good portion of spring practice installing new wrinkles and formations. It included working the “Pistol” formation — what Arkansas calls “Shot” — into its run game.

“I do think it will take him some time and some reps to get him used to some of the things we’re doing out of it now,” Petrino said. “Him missing the 15 practices in spring ball is something he has to make up. We have to give him a lot of reps. … The good thing about Ryan is, he’s a very quick learner.”

Conditioning will be another area expected to take time even though Mallett said he worked on staying in shape by swimming throughout the summer.

Offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said the Razorbacks will work on Mallett’s conditioning when preseason practice begins. But the Razorbacks will be cautious and won’t push Mallett too much, too quickly.

“He’s just going to need more reps to get himself in condition,” McGee said. “A lot of these guys have been running and they’re in top condition right now, so we’ve got to get him in shape, get his timing back, and just get him back in rhythm.

“He’ll get the reps that he needs in camp.”