Branson Robinson injury update: Kirby Smart provides latest on Georgia RB rehab

Georgia‘s once-promising backfield has been riddled by the injury bug all season, beginning with potential starter Roderick Robinson III undergoing a preseason surgery to repair an offseason toe injury.

Those injury issues only escalated when redshirt sophomore running back Branson Robinson — no relation — suffered a MCL injury to his right knee in the first half against Mississippi State in early October. Since then, the Bulldogs also lost starting tailback Trevor Etienne to nagging injuries that has forced him to sit out the Tennessee game after being limited against Ole Miss and Florida the two weeks before.

But there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel, at least for one Georgia running back. Branson Robinson could be nearing a return to the field after promising work off to the side during Tuesday’s practice, according to head coach Kirby Smart.

“He’s running, I think I’m saying this right, he’s starting to cut yesterday, and is cutting,” Smart said Tuesday. “He did not do anything with us, but he did do a lot of running. He had good speed, he’s getting his confidence back planting and cutting.

“He’s in meetings, he’s in gameplan stuff, and he’s showing progress. But he’s not taking reps with us.”

Branson Robinson has missed the last four games plus a bye week since his MCL injury against Mississippi State. In six games this season, Robinson has just 73 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 25 carries.

Branson Robinson, the former four-star product and No. 2-ranked running back nationally and 73rd-ranked overall player in the 2022 class according to On3’s Industry Rankings, also missed all of the 2023 season with a ruptured patellar tendon suffered in Fall Camp prior to that season.

Prior to the Tennessee game, Smart was hesitant to put a definitive timetable on Robinson’s return.

“Branson is back out with us,” Smart said Nov. 12. “Moving around, running on the bike in pads. I don’t want to say he’s a week away, I honestly don’t know. But he’s getting closer.”

Branson Robinson wasn’t the only encouraging update for the beleaguered Bulldogs’ offense this week.

Dillon Bell, Trevor Etienne injury updates: Kirby Smart offers latest on Georgia stars

On Monday, Smart shared an update on a couple of those players, focusing on wide receiver Dillon Bell and then running back Trevor Etienne.

“No update on Dillon, really,” Kirby Smart said. “I just ran into him a few minutes ago. Got an ankle sprain. It’s stable. Not going to require any sort of surgery. Hopeful to get him back. Same with Trevor.”

Bell was knocked out of the Tennessee game with an ankle injury. He wasn’t then able to return to the game. That came after he took a handoff from quarterback Carson Beck. Prior to that injury, Bell had two receptions for 12 yards to go along with the one carry against the Volunteers. With that, there’s hope he can return for the end of the regular season.

For his part, Trevor Etienne wasn’t able to play at all against Tennessee. The star running back was injured against Florida but returned the next week to play in a limited role against Ole Miss. However, he wasn’t able to go again in the week after. Now, there is hope for him to return soon.

“We’re hoping to get him back. That’s what I can tell you,” Smart said. “Ribs are a painful injury. I don’t know if that’s the exact term, but he does have a rib injury and we hope to get him back.”

Dan Morrison contributed to this report.