Kirby Smart offers latest on injured Bulldog Ameer Speed

Senior defensive back Ameer Speed is still questionable for Saturday’s game versus No. 11 Kentucky, according to head coach Kirby Smart.

The cornerback from Jacksonville, Florida, had to miss the win versus Auburn due to an ankle injury he suffered in practice.

“Ameer has still got an ankle,” Smart said. “He had an ankle last week in practice and unfortunate because he’s playing really good for us, especially on special teams units. Don’t know if he’ll be back.”

Speed, a former three-star prospect, has made three starts for the Bulldogs and his playing time has increased steadily over the past four years. So far this year, he’s racked up seven tackles, five total.

Although listed as Speeds backup to start the season, redshirt freshman Kelee Ringo has started the last three games for Kirby Smart’s secondary. Ringo was the No. 1 prospect in the 2020 recruiting class but missed his first year due to offseason surgery on his shoulder. Through six games this season, he’s posted eight tackles, an interception and four pass breakups.

Though the Bulldogs could certainly use Speed back on special teams and for depth at corner, it seems like Ringo’s locked down his position long-term.

Speed one of many on Georgia’s injury report

The Georgia Bulldogs are still trying to get several players healthy ahead of Saturday’s game versus the unbeaten Kentucky Wildcats.

Amongst the many is quarterback JT Daniels. The former starter has been on a pitch count as he heals his lat strain but missed the last two games.

“We’re trying to get JT back,” Smart shared. “He is much improved this last week. At the end of the week, he had a really productive throwing session, I guess it was Thursday maybe. And then before the game, he was able to throw more than he was the previous week. We’re going to let him throw some today, although today will be a lighter practice … We’ll look and see how he is, where he is, see what he can do. That’s always the case.”

Smart said he’s hopeful that the Bulldogs will have top left tackle Jamaree Salyer back from an ankle injury he sustained against Auburn. There are also a slew of other injured Bulldogs who are questionable for Saturday.

“We’re hoping to get Arian (Smith) back,” Smart said. “We’re hoping to get Jermaine (Burton) back. (Marcus) Rosemy looked good Saturday in warmups to me and probably could have played in an emergency, so we’re thinking we’re going to get him back. Not sure on Dom (Blaylock), won’t be on George (Pickens) … Kenny (McIntosh) has got a little bit of a hamstring.”

Kickoff in Athens is at 3:30 p.m. ET. The ESPN CollegeGameday crew will be on-site for the ranked-on-ranked action.