Arkansas' Bielema says QB's status still uncertain
By KURT VOIGT Associated Press on Sep 17, 2013, at 2:32 AM Updated on 9/17/13 at 6:07 AM
Arkansas
Bret Bielema stressed throughout the preseason the importance of having backups ready at all positions.
Bret Bielema wasn't concerned when Arkansas trailed by four points entering the fourth quarter against Samford last week, unlike the majority of those at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Bret Bielema still doesn't know whether Brandon Allen will play this week, and he's not about to put any more information out there about the quarterback's status than he needs to.
The Arkansas coach said Monday that he had no more news regarding Allen's bruised right shoulder, which he injured last week while diving for a first-quarter touchdown against Southern Mississippi.
Allen's injury forced him to miss most of the Razorbacks' win over the Golden Eagles. Backup AJ Derby finished the game, and Bielema said the junior will prepare with the first-team offense this week while he awaits definitive word on Allen's status.
"It's really just a matter of how fast (Allen's) body can heal," Bielema said. "I know it's a throwing arm issue ... I wouldn't want to put him in harm's way at all."
Arkansas (3-0) travels to Rutgers this week in a rematch of a regular-season game that the Scarlet Knights (2-1) won last season 35-26 in Fayetteville. Rutgers is unsure of the status of its starting quarterback, Gary Nova, who suffered a concussion last week.
To help the Razorbacks quarterbacks focus on Saturday, Bielema said he's making them "off limits" to interviews this week. The former Wisconsin coach said he did the same thing while with the Badgers.
Arkansas up next
At Rutgers
2:30 p.m. Saturday
TV: ESPN-25
Radio: KCFO am970
Original Print Headline: Bielema: Allen's status still in doubt
Arkansas
Bret Bielema stressed throughout the preseason the importance of having backups ready at all positions.
Bret Bielema wasn't concerned when Arkansas trailed by four points entering the fourth quarter against Samford last week, unlike the majority of those at Little Rock's War Memorial Stadium.
