Georgia football injury report: Kirby Smart updates status of Tate Ratledge, injured wide receiver
KNOXVILLE, Tenn., — It wouldn’t be a Georgia football game without some new injuries popping up. Just as the Georgia offense seemed to be getting healthy, it saw a trio of key players exit the game.
Tate Ratledge left in the first quarter of the game with a left knee injury.
“Tate banged knees, so we felt he might be able to get back in there,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “He tried to go, but couldn’t, there’s no X-ray, no damage, so he tells me he’s going to be able to play this week. We’ll see.”
With Ratledge out, Georgia slid Dylan Fairchild over to right guard and put Micah Morris at left guard. Both have plenty of experience already this year, with Fairchild having started the last seven games at left guard for Georgia.
The Bulldogs did have Amarius Mims back in the starting lineup this week, as he got the start at right tackle. Georgia was also able to rotate Xavier Truss and Earnest Greene at left tackle as well.
“With the injuries we’ve had, it’s been great. Stacy has done a great job of cross-training those guys,” Smart said. “I feel like we’ve got 3 tackles, 3 or 4 guards, 2 centers. You have to go into the season with that. When you don’t, you get in trouble. He’s done a great job of building those guys that way.”
At wide receiver, Georgia saw Rara Thomas exit the game in the second quarter with a foot injury.
“The X-rays were negative, it wasn’t an ankle sprain, it bothered him in warmups,” Smart said. “Maybe a foot sprain, which is what Kamari has been dealing with. We don’t really know, but the X-rays are negative, so that’s really good news. But it’s not an ankle.”
Wide receiver Ladd McConkey also left in the first quarter after he reaggravated an ankle injury he initially suffered in the Ole Miss game.
“Ladd had an ankle last week and he didn’t practice all week,” Smart said. “We thought he’d be able to go, but he was not really able to go. He tried, got out there in warm-ups but he didn’t do much.”
With McConkey and Thomas down, the Bulldogs saw Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Dillon Bell step up. Rosemy-Jacksaint caught 7 passes for 91 yards and 2 touchdowns, while Bell caught 5 passes for 90 yards and a touchdown. Bell also threw for a touchdown.
Georgia was without defensive tackle Warren Brinson and cornerback Julian Humphrey, as both players did not travel with the team after picking up injuries in the win over Ole Miss. Neither player traveled with the team.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson traveled with the team but did not dress out as he is still dealing with a forearm injury.
Georgia beat Tennessee 38-10 on Saturday to move to 11-0 on the season and cap a perfect 8-0 mark in SEC play. The Bulldogs will go on the road once more next week as they take on Georgia Tech. The game is set for a 7:30 p.m. ET start, with ABC broadcasting the game.
Georgia football injury report
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, forearm —
Darris Smith, away from the team —
Julian Humphrey, collarbone —
Branson Robinson, knee —
CJ Smith, knee —
Warren Brinson, calf —
Tate Ratledge, left knee — left game
Ladd McConkey, ankle — left game
Rara Thomas, foot — left game
Brock Bowers, ankle — probable
Amarius Mims, ankle — probable
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