Kirby Smart provides injury updates on Jamaree Salyer, Chris Smith ahead of Orange Bowl

The health of a team is very important as this time of the college football season as bowl games are taking place and teams want to finish the year on a positive note. Heading into the College Football Playoff, that’s even more important – especially for No. 3 ranked Georgia, which opens semifinal play on New Year’s Eve against No. 2 Michigan in the Orange Bowl.

As for the Bulldogs, they’ve had a pair of players – offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer and defensive back Chris Smith – battling injuries. While Salyer has been dealing with a foot injury, Smith has been limited due to a knee injury.

During his press conference on Monday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart provided an update on the status of Salyer and Smith heading into the Orange Bowl.

“Both Chris and Jamaree have been practicing,” Smart said. “Chris has been a little more limited in terms of volume, but he’s practiced each and every day. He’s still overcoming his knee, but he’s done a great job. Jamaree’s been out there every practice doing a good job and has gotten a lot more work. He actually didn’t get a lot of work before the SEC championship game, so he’s been able to practice. We’ve had an opportunity to get a lot of young guys work in the time building up to our game prep.

“Proud of all the work the guys have done.”

Georgia (12-1) and Michigan (12-1) are scheduled to kickoff at 7:30 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. ESPN is carrying the national broadcast.

Smart addresses Georgia quarterback situation ahead of CFP semifinal vs. Michigan

Heading into the Orange Bowl matchup between Georgia and Michigan, which is drawing much attention as New Year’s Eve continues to move closer, a lot of eyes are on the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation – relating to whether Stetson Bennett or JT Daniels will get the start against the Wolverines.

While Bennett has played in 12 games this season and thrown for 2,325 yards and 24 touchdowns, Daniels has tallied 722 yards and seven touchdowns in six games. Heading into his team’s game against Michigan, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart addressed the Bulldogs’ quarterback situation.

“We don’t disclose that information – we just talk about the guys that are doing their job,” Smart said. “All four of those games have done a tremendous job working with us. Brock [Vandagriff]’s been giving us a great picture down on the scout team end and JT and Stetson are both really doing a good job of simulating the offense that [Todd] Monken wants to do.

“Like I talk about all the time, we’re going to play the guy that gives us the best chance to win – and I’m really proud of the way both of those guys have practiced. We’ve done I guess four or five camp-type practices and two really focused on Michigan-type practices and both guys – Stetson and JT – have been really good, in terms of locked-in and focused on what we need to focus on.”