The SEC has a lighter slate Saturday, with just five games on the schedule and six teams enjoying a bye week. Still, several key players have made headlines with injury updates. Here’s the latest on their status ahead of kickoff.
Ahmad Hardy will play
Missouri’s star running back Ahmad Hardy will play on Saturday against Arkansas. Hardy was the SEC leading rusher a season ago, but has missed the entire season so far because of a gunshot wound he suffered over the summer.
Two things to watch for Missouri: Will Hardy’s addition move the betting line in the final hours before kickoff? And will the Tigers limit his carries?
Aaron Philo to start for Florida
The Tramell Jones Jr. era came to a swift end after he made his first career start. It was a pretty good start, as he beat Texas in Austin. There’s a case to be made for not losing your starting job because of injury, but there’s also definitely something to be said for riding the hot hand.
Jones and Philo were both listed as questionable on the availability report earlier this week. It appears both are at similar stages of health and/or recovery before Saturday. Philo will get the start, but expect both quarterbacks to play.
Walking wounded
Missouri made news before their bye week with an absurd 24 players on their availability report before the Ole Miss game. They apparently got very healthy on the bye with just three players listed on the initial report this week.
This week’s walking wounded award goes to Oklahoma and Ole Miss. The Sooners have 10 players on the injury report, while the Rebels have 14.
