Arkansas coach Sam Pittman knew earlier in the week that quarterback Feleipe Franks was banged up. He didn’t know, though, if Franks would be able to play Saturday at Missouri.
Franks — who Tigers coach Eli Drinkwitz on Tuesday said was playing as well as any quarterback in the SEC aside from Mac Jones at Alabama and Kyle Trask at Florida — tried to give practice a go Tuesday, but he was experiencing too much discomfort in his ribs.
In his absence against the Tigers, redshirt freshman KJ Jefferson filled in admirably and performed well after some early jitters, nearly leading the Razorbacks to a thrilling road win at Faurot Field.