Jonathan Williams to Miss "An Extended Period of Time" After Injury

Senior running back Jonathan Williams will miss "an extended period of time" according to a release from the official Arkansas website. Per Arkansas Fight, Williams left Arkansas' practice early on Saturday with a "tender ankle," but Sunday the school released that the unspecified foot injury will require surgery.

The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that Williams injury could result in the absence extending to the entire season.

The official statement said that while the injury required surgery, Williams is expected to make a full recovery. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema offered a brief quote on Williams' injury in the official release:

I have no doubt that Jonathan will come back stronger than ever. Anyone that knows Jonathan Williams knows this is just another opportunity for him to prove the man of character and substance that he really is. It's an unfortunate injury to a great young man, but we are in the process of gathering as much information as possible. There are short and long term impacts of how he proceeds and we want to make sure he does what's best for him and his family, and his career beyond Arkansas.

Running back was, of course, a position of depth for the Razorbacks entering 2015, with Williams and Alex Collins both returning. Collins had only seven fewer carries than Williams in 2014 (211-204), and their yards per carry were similar (5.6 for Williams, 5.4 for Collins) while their touchdowns were equal (12). On the surface, it would appear that Collins' touches will increase while freshman Rawleigh Williams and senior Kody Walker could take up some of the slack. Rawleigh Williams had 102 yards in Saturday's scrimmage, while Walker was the third-leading rusher for Arkansas in 2014 with 149 yards on 31 carries.

For further coverage of Williams' injury and Arkansas Razorbacks sports, visit SBNation's Arkansas Fight.