Amarius Mims leaves game against South Carolina with injury

Georgia offensive lineman Amarius Mims left Saturday’s game against South Carolina with an injury. He went down in the second quarter as the Bulldogs trailed the Gamecocks 7-3.

Mims, a huge part of the Georgia offensive line, appeared to tweak his leg while making a block. He ended up walking to the locker room afterward, as well.

Mims was a preseason All-SEC team selection this year after serving as a reserve offensive lineman last season en route to a second consecutive national championship. He also got plenty of experience in the College Football Playoff, appearing on 35% of Georgia’s snaps on offense in the CFP, and was effectively a starter last season.

That garnered him some praise from Kirby Smart, but pointed out it’s important to keep improving and cleaning things up.

“Amarius has done a good job. He’s played well, especially in the pass game and continues to work on the run game with getting movement,” Smart said, via DawgsHQ’s Palmer Thombs. “He’s a guy that got really good experience last year in terms of the end of the year with the injuries we had. He really played like a starter last year. He’s continued to do that this year. He and the rest of the o-line unit, we need a really solid performance out of them in terms of protection and movement up front to create run game.”

Ladd McConkey also out for Georgia against South Carolina

Amarius Mims isn’t the only major injury Georgia is dealing with against South Carolina. The Bulldogs are also again without Ladd McConkey as he works his way back from a back injury, as On3’s Matt Zenitz reported Friday night.

McConkey was a huge piece of Georgia’s offense last season, hauling in 58 receptions for 762 yards and seven touchdowns as he helped the Bulldogs to a second straight national championship. His absence means Carson Beck will be without a top weapon once again as Georgia welcomes Shane Beamer’s group to Athens.

Georgia coach Kirby Smart spoke earlier this week about how Georgia can go forward without McConkey, but noted how valuable his experience is to the roster.

“We have guys that have similar skillsets. They don’t have the experience,” Smart said. “I mean, we got guys capable of appealing the void left by Ladd. But we don’t have guys with the experience in this offense — two years, 15 games a year, 30 games experience. It’s just immense. So that’s the part we miss.

“As far as his ability, he hasn’t been available. He’s been injured, and he’s trying to come back. And we’re trying to figure out all we can do to speed that process up.”