Arkansas running back Dennis Johnson has been on everyone’s mind since his injury in the 31-7 win against Louisiana-Monroe.

In case you haven’t heard, Johnson suffered what Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino called a “bowel” injury. He was taken to the hospital Saturday night after throwing up in the locker room and underwent surgery to repair his bowels. Petrino said he was “very, very concerned” for Johnson even though there was encouraging news in post-surgery reports and added there is no “timetable for his return to football right now.

We got a chance to speak to several Arkansas players about their teammate after Tuesday’s practice and their concern was evident, too. But Williams said it had nothing to do with what losing Johnson meant for Arkansas’ offense.

“Everybody on our team was concerned about Dennis as a person,” Williams said. “It really hurt us. He’s one of our brothers. Our prayers are for Dennis. We wish the best for him and we’re going to support him in every way possible. He’s going to bounce back from this.”

The injury occurred when Johnson returned the second half kickoff and absorbed a blow to the abdominal area. Williams said the Razorbacks saw the play during their film study session after the game. He was surprised and impressed that Johnson walked off the field.

Williams, like most of the Razorbacks, didn’t know the extent of Johnson’s injuries until Monday or Tuesday. It shocked most of them.

In fact, wide receiver De’Anthony Curtis, who is one of Johnson’s closest friends after the two came to Arkansas as running backs in the 2008 signing class, said he didn’t find out until Tuesday. He thought about the short conversation he had with Johnson moments after he was injured.

“I saw him go to the sideline,” Curtis said. “Me and Dennis are real close, so I thought something was wrong with him but it wasn’t too much wrong with him. So I was messing with him. I heard the other day it was ribs. Then I heard today it was something else, his bowels. …

“I was like, man, you can’t take the game for granted. The Lord could take it any time he wants to. So you’ve got to play it, be able to have fun and live as the moment comes.”

Curtis and several teammates said they’ve done their best to get in touch with Johnson and his family to check on his condition.

Running back Knile Davis said he did get the opportunity to speak to Johnson, although the running back couldn’t say much.

“I talked to his mom,” Davis said. “I briefly talked to him. I did most of the talking. He wasn’t able to talk too much. He’s holding in there. He’s doing pretty good. His mom is confident in the doctors and everything.”

There is good news: Johnson was transported from the hospital in Little Rock to Fayetteville on Tuesday. So he’s closer to the Razorbacks as they prepare for their SEC opener at Georgia.

Some of his teammates planned to go to the hospital to check on him after Tuesday’s practice, while Arkansas’ coaches wanted them to use Johnson’s injury as a reminder and motivating factor for the Razorbacks.

“Dennis is one of my favorite guys,” offensive coordinator Garrick McGee said. “He always has been. He’s one of our best players, there’s no doubt about it. He is one of our leaders. What we did, we talked about coming out here and being fortunate to come out on the field and practice, when Dennis, one of our main guys is sitting there and he can’t get out here and practice with us.

“We’re really praying for that guy. He’s one of our guys. He’s one of my favorite guys.”

Arkansas has not said, definitively, that Johnson is out for the season. Running backs coach Tim Horton said after practice Tuesday he hoped the Razorbacks could get Johnson back at some point this season, but it “doesn’t look really encouraging for that, either.”

Curtis agreed, saying he didn’t think Johnson would be back in uniform this season. He just wants to see him healthy again first.

“That’s something that’s nothing to play with,” Curtis said. “I just hope he takes his time, gets better, just take his time really. I’m not worried about seeing him on the field this year. I’d rather see him and his family happy than seeing him on the field hurting.”

— Robbie Neiswanger • Arkansas News Bureau • rneiswanger@arkansasnews.com • @NWARobbie (Twitter)