FAYETTEVILLE — The first team period of camp with Arkansas in full pads was just a few snaps old when middle linebacker Tenarius Wright met tailback Knile Davis in the hole with a thud.

The hit did not end well for Wright, who looked disoriented after it, pulled off his helmet and received assistance to the sideline. He was quickly driven off in a cart for further evaluation.

“Tenarius took a hit and we will continue to evaluate him,” Arkansas Coach John L. Smith said through a team spokesman.

Wright appeared to suffer a stinger-type injury or possibly a concussion on the play.

“I didn’t know he got hurt until after practice,” Davis said. “Hopefully, it’s not severe.”

The lick left Arkansas without its two projected starting inside linebackers, as Alonzo Highsmith was observing and helping at practice in a T-shirt and shorts while recovering from his mild hamstring injury.

True freshman Otha Peters immediately filled in for Wright, while senior Terrell Williams continued to take first-team reps for Highsmith.

Heating up

The first work in pads also brought out the camp’s first fight.

Sophomore center Mitch Smothers and freshman defensive tackle Darius Philon got tangled up during a team period and took a few swings at each other. A handful of defensive players, including Philon’s high school teammate JaMichael Winston and fellow defensive lineman Jared Green, also got involved.

Strength and conditioning coach Jason Veltkamp wound up tackling Green to remove him from the action as the players were separated.

Coach John L. Smith immediately gathered the team to chastise the players who came onto the field to get involved.

“That’s just football, no big deal,” offensive coordinator Paul Petrino said. “That’s just a part of practice that happens every once in a while. Guys get fired up flying around and things happen.”Bennett back

Safety Eric Bennett was back in team periods Monday, but only briefly as he appeared to retweak a hamstring or groin.

The injury gave more first-team reps to Jerry Mitchell and Alan Turner, while redshirt freshman Rohan Gaines continues to get extensive reps at the other safety spot.

Childs update

Tight end Chris Gragg said he has talked to former Arkansas receiver Greg Childs a couple of times since Childs tore patella tendons in both knees late Saturday night while practicing for the Minnesota Vikings.

“That’s just a freak injury that happened at a real bad time,” Gragg said, talking about his former teammate at Warren High School and with the Razorbacks. “I’m praying for him, everybody on the team’s praying for him and everybody back home in Warren is praying for him.”

Childs underwent surgery Monday.

“He’s got a tough road ahead of him, no question about it,” Vikings Coach Leslie Frazier told The Associated Press. “I mean, you’re talking about both knees.”

Childs was distraught, Frazier said, but also determined to resume his career.

“He is going to work extremely hard and get back to playing again. That was his attitude, and those were the words he shared with me: ‘Coach, I’ll be back. I’m going to do it just like I did before.

I’m going to work as hard as I can. I’ll be back out here to help the Vikings,’ ” Frazier said. “That is a great attitude under the circumstances.”

Childs, on Twitter, thanked his followers, fans, friends and family for praying for him and said, “I will be fine.”

Worth noting

All-SEC guard Alvin Bailey took more reps with the first unit on offense Monday than he had the first several days of camp.

Bailey split time with Luke Charpentier.

Redshirt freshman Kelvin Fisher Jr. moved to safety from cornerback.

Defensive end Trey Flowers had what looked like a sure interception off Tyler Wilson over the middle, but he mishandled the ball and it went right into the hands of Brandon Mitchell for a solid gain.

Sports, Pages 22 on 08/07/2012