Arkansas defensive lineman John Morgan was taken to a local hospital after being carted off the field during the fourth quarter of Saturday’s loss to Texas A&M after he collapsed following a play in which he seemed to snap his head backwards on contact.
Morgan was blinking properly and speaking with people as he was taken off the field while strapped to a backboard on a cart. That was a precautionary move Arkansas’ trainers took after Morgan reported having pain in his neck, according to SEC Network.
“He had movement everywhere,” Arkansas head coach Sam Pittman said.
“He was — good spirits isn’t the words. But he visited with me, he said, ‘Coach, I’m fine.’ He did have some soreness in his neck, so they took the precautionary, which they should. They’re good at what they do and took care of him. But he had movement everywhere, and he’s at the doctor.”
Morgan was credited with a tackle in the game, in which Arkansas trailed 34-16 with over 5 minutes left in regulation at the time of the player’s injury.
Morgan is a sixth-year senior but 2023 is his first outing with the Razorbacks after he transferred to the school from Pitt, where he played the last five seasons.
Arkansas came into Saturday’s game looking to end a two-game losing streak after losing close games to BYU and LSU in consecutive weeks, but finished on the wrong side of a 34-22 decision against the Aggies, a third-straight defeat.
The Razorbacks are at 2-3 overall and 0-2 in SEC play, and as a result of Saturday’s loss currently sit in last place in the West Division standings.