[ad_1]
Georgia outdoors linebacker Nolan Smith, the No. 1-ranked Bulldogs’ main move rusher this season, is uncertain to play in Saturday’s showdown in opposition to No. 2 Tennessee due to a shoulder damage, coach Kirby Sensible informed reporters on Monday.
Smith, a senior from Savannah, Georgia, was damage within the first half of the Bulldogs’ 42-20 victory in opposition to Florida and did not return. After the sport, Sensible mentioned he feared that Smith had dislocated his shoulder, however it’s believed to be a muscle damage.
Sensible did not solely rule Smith out from enjoying in opposition to the Volunteers, however mentioned he was “in all probability uncertain.”
“His availability has not been decided,” Sensible mentioned. “It doesn’t look good for availability this week. It is a pec muscle, so it is a kind of offers the place we’ll do an MRI on. We’re nonetheless getting some opinions on it, however he is in all probability uncertain for this week.”
Smith leads the Bulldogs with three sacks, seven tackles for loss and 16 quarterback hurries.
With out Smith, Georgia should search for different methods to stress Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker, who has thrown for two,338 yards with 21 touchdowns and one interception this season. The Volunteers lead the FBS in each scoring (49.4 factors) and whole offense (553 yards) and are second in passing (353.4 yards).
Sophomore Chaz Chambliss performed nicely in opposition to Florida in Smith’s absence, ending with three tackles, one sack and one deal with for loss.
Georgia’s protection ranks No. 2 within the FBS in scoring, permitting solely 10.5 factors per sport, however it had struggled to sack the quarterback till the Florida sport. The return of junior defensive deal with Jalen Carter, who had been sidelined for 2 video games with a knee damage, was a giant cause why.
“He regarded higher than I assumed,” Sensible mentioned. “I hope we’ll be capable of have him at full velocity.”
Source link