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

The Georgia Bulldogs were without several key offensive players for the team’s win over Tennessee on Saturday night. Now, Kirby Smart is hoping to get some of those key players back before the end of the season.

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.”

This season, Trevor Etienne has 477 yards and 5.0 yards per attempt to go with seven rushing touchdowns in eight games this season. He’s also been a weapon in the passing game with 23 receptions for 140 yards on the season. In his absence, freshman Nate Frazier has largely stepped up.

Then, Dillon Bell has 35 receptions for 405 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games this season. That’s good for 11.6 yards per reception. He also has eight carries for 106 yards and a touchdown. It was on one of those carries that he got injured.

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs don’t have any more SEC games during the regular season. This upcoming weekend the Bulldogs will host the UMass Minutemen. Then, they’ll renew their rivalry with the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets to end the regular season.