By Scott Faldon
Times Record • sfaldon@swtimes.com
FAYETTEVILLE — Ryan Mallett’s right arm has gotten a lot of attention the past two seasons. Now, the right shoulder of the Arkansas quarterback is in the spotlight.
For the second consecutive week, the junior didn’t make it to the end of the game. In last week’s 65-43 loss at Auburn, Mallett was knocked out of the game at the end of the second quarter with a concussion. In Saturday’s 38-24 win against Ole Miss, Mallett left the game with what is being called a bruised right shoulder.
“It just got bruised up and real tight and the doc pulled me out.” Mallett said. “Just one time I fell on it wrong.”
Mallett’s final pass was a 6-yard screen pass to Cobi Hamilton on third-and-12 with 5:06 remaining in the third quarter. The game was then delayed for 58 minutes due to lightning.
Zac Lehr • Special to the Arkansas News Bureau
During the delay, Mallett was examined by Arkansas team doctors and even threw passes inside the Broyles Complex. Once the lightning moved through, the teams were given a 10-minute warm-up on the field. Mallett went through passing drills, but after a short Ole Miss possession, Greenwood’s Tyler Wilson trotted onto the field for the next Arkansas series.
“When we came off the field (for the lightning delay), he went in and saw the doctors,” Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino said. “There’s no damage done to the labrum or rotator cuff or anything like that.
“But he’d lost strength in his arm. We’d tested him in the first break to see if he could throw it with the velocity. He had a hard time throwing spirals, had a hard time getting much on the ball. When we brought them out, we knew he wouldn’t be able to go, but we brought him out to warm up to just maybe not let them know.”
For his part, Mallett obviously would have preferred to finish the game. Especially since he didn’t finish the game the week before.
“I could’ve gone back in (if needed). It was just a precautionary deal; I have to live with it. I don’t have any say in that,” Mallett said. “It’s not what I wish for — hope for — but it’s part of the game. You’re going to get nicked up, banged up and I just had to go with what the coaches and the doctors said.”
When asked if he’ll be ready for Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt, Mallett said, “I’m good, I’m good. … It’s a bruise, just a bruise.”
Mallett wasn’t the only offensive starter injured against the Rebels.
Joe Adams, after a 97-yard punt return for a touchdown in the second quarter, was injured as well. On the Razorbacks’ first drive of the third quarter, Adams caught a Mallett pass and raced to the left sideline. He was tackled from behind by two Ole Miss defenders. He did not return, but expects to against Vandy.
“I got kind of horse-collared and my ankle got rolled up,” Adams said. “It’s just like an ankle sprain; I’m going to be back next week.”
Greg Childs was injured on Arkansas’ next possession. On 5-yard completion from Mallett, Childs was upended and twisted by Ole Miss defenders Jeremy McGee and Johnny Brown.
“Both of them got ankle (injuries), so we’ll just have to wait and see,” Petrino said. “I didn’t hear the word ‘high’ (as in ‘high-ankle sprain’) so I’m happy about that. I’m hoping that’s not what it is.”
