We just got back from Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino’s weekly Monday news conference. He spoke, then quarterback Ryan Mallett, defensive end Jake Bequette and finally running back Ronnie Wingo Jr.

Here’s what we learned:

-Petrino said he’ll find out this week if wide receiver London Crawford is ready to return from a broken collarbone suffered in the Sept. 5 season opener against Missouri State. Crawford has been running in practice and appears to be close to making his return, but Petrino said the senior will have an X-ray to determine his progress.

- Meanwhile, Petrino said running back Dennis Johnson was swollen this morning after injuring his leg in Saturday’s win over Texas A&M. Petrino added that the sophomore will continue to return kickoffs if he’s healthy, but for now, Johnson is sore.

- And the final piece of injury news, Petrino said the plan was to play highly touted freshman Darius Winston in the Southwest Classic, but the cornerback “tweaked” his ankle in practice late last week. Petrino said it’s too early to tell if Winston will get in the game against Auburn, but of course, everyone will be looking for him.

- Running back De’Anthony Curtis has improved so much that Arkansas’ coaches are starting to have confidence in him. Petrino said the sophomore was recently named the team’s special teams player of the week because of his blocking, and it’s gotten to the point where Petrino no longer sees Curtis as a fullback. He’s now a “flyback” because after all what running back wants to be called a fullback.

- Petrino and several of Arkansas’ players said that facing Gus Malzahn’s offense last year when the former Springdale High coach was at Tulsa should help them as they prepare for Saturday’s game against Auburn. In his first year as the Tigers’ offensive coordinator, Malzahn has his new offense rolling in ways it didn’t a year ago. But the Razorbacks will likely pay close attention to what Malzahn did at Tulsa to get ready for this weekend.

Well, that’s it for now. But we’ll have more in tomorrow’s newspaper, as well as on the blog and on Twitter (@NWAAlex and NWARobbie).