Kirby Smart provides injury updates on Javon Bullard, Austin Blaske

The Georgia Bulldogs are headed into SEC play in Week 3 as they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks. Ahead of their home matchup with their SEC East foe, head coach Kirby Smart provided injury updates on offensive lineman Austin Blaske and defensive back Javon Bullard.

“Blaske, he’s working his way back: might be available,” said Smart. “He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve been around. So he’s trying to speed up that recovery and make himself available for this game. Javon is still a no right now. He’s out there practicing but wasn’t able to do a lot.”

Blaske is slotted behind red-shirt freshman Ernest Green at left tackle. His availability would give the Bulldogs much-needed depth at the position as they prepare for the most challenging part of their schedule. Bullard is Georgia’s starting strong safety. Although the Bulldogs have plenty of depth at that position, losing a fixture in their secondary could be problematic down the stretch of the season.

According to Smart, Blaske is on track to suit up and play this week against South Carolina. Unfortunately for Georgia’s starting safety, Bullard, his return might have to wait until Week 4 against UAB.

Smart on Georgia’s last home loss

While the Bulldogs headman was ready and willing to discuss injury reports, there was one topic he was mum on, that is the last time Georgia lost at home and the whom.

To find the last time Georiga lost at Sanford Stadium, you have to go back to the 2019 season. South Carolina was able to pull off the surprising upset, and with the Gamecocks coming to Athens on Saturday, they will be looking to repeat history. However, don’t count on Smart spending any time bringing the game up to his players or in a coach’s meeting.

During his Tuesday press conference, Smart was asked if he would remind his team of the dangers of South Carolina coming out of nowhere. Georgia wound up indirectly missing out on the College Football Playoff because of the loss, finishing with an 11-1 regular season record before dropping the SEC Championship game to LSU.

Smart’s answer was no, saying he did not want to give Will Muschamp and Bryan McClendon the opportunity to puff their chest about the game.

“I wouldn’t want to give (Bryan McClendon) and Will (Muschamp) the pleasure,” Smart said via On3’s Dawgs HQ.