FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas offensive lineman Patrick Kutas has missed all but two preseason practices due to a back injury but may return soon, coach Sam Pittman said Thursday.

Kutas, one of two returning starters on the line, is the likely starter at left guard when healthy.

“We’re continuing to get looks at him,” Pittman said. “We’re hoping he’s back as early as Monday. It could be as early as the next Monday, to be honest with you. So, we’re still waiting. He’s in rehab right now rehabbing that back, and he’s feeling much better.

“We don’t want to get him out there too fast so it doesn’t complicate [the injury] the entire year. We’re being very, very cautious with him.”

Pittman said Ty’Kieast Crawford, who has primarily spent time as a backup right guard during preseason practices, suffered a minor injury during Thursday’s scrimmage.

“Ty’Kieast went down with a little injury, so we didn’t get to work that as much as we wanted to,” Pittman said, later adding the injury was “not bad, just a little shoulder injury. Nothing major.”

E’Marion Harris and Amaury Wiggins, who have primarily played tackle and center, respectively, have been taking snaps at left guard in Kutas’ absence. Pittman said it’s a battle Harris “probably ahead” in right now.

“E’Marion Harris has had a really good camp,” Pittman said. “Our plan was to switch those two guys in a little bit — get [Wiggins] at center and get [Harris] reps at left tackle. [When Crawford got injured] in the scrimmage, it really kind of affected that rotation.”