Arkansas escaped an upset bid from Louisiana Tech in the season opener, but they did so at a cost. Defensive back Kevin Richardson suffered a torn pectoral muscle and will now be out for the remainder of the 2016 season. Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema announced the injury news on Monday.
According to a report from the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Richardson was scheduled to undergo surgery on Monday. The rehab process is expected to take up to four months, meaning a return for a bowl game might be a reach. Richardson had been playing backup defensive assignments and starting on special teams for Arkansas.
“Just his demeanor, his attitude, he’s everything I want in this program,” Bielema said, according to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette report. “He knows the defensive package as well as any coach.”