Sam Pittman gives injury updates on Ja’Quinden Jackson, Jaylon Braxton and more ahead of Week 9

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas running back Ja’Quinden Jackson is “highly questionable” to play Saturday against Mississippi State, coach Sam Pittman said Monday.

Jackson has struggled to stay on the field in recent weeks while dealing with a right ankle injury. He left Saturday’s game against LSU in the fourth quarter after a “tweak” on the same ankle.

Pittman said Arkansas will “raise up Braylen Russell” to lead the running game. The true freshman has seen his workload increase with Jackson hit and former No. 2 Rodney Hill out for the past two games.

Cornerback Jaylon Braxton has not played since Week 2 against Oklahoma State with a leg injury, but had remained on Arkansas’ weekly depth charts until Monday’s Week 9 game notes were released .Pittman said he doesn’t expect Braxton to return before Arkansas’ second week bye on Nov. 9.

Braxton was named to the SEC All-Freshman team by the league’s coaches after a 2023 season in which he played in nine games with six starts. Had 20 tackles, 1 fumble, 1 interception and 9 passes defensed as a freshman.