Eli Drinkwitz updates health of Missouri players ahead of Georgia game

Eli Drinkwitz and Missouri will need all the firepower they can get taking on Georgia this weekend.

But it seems like the injury report is of no concern to the Tigers staff. The head coach reported good news regarding injured players following the bye week.

Drinkwitz was pleased that his team nearly had a clean bill of health ahead of Georgia.

“We came back, everybody was here Sunday night for our family trick or treat kids night and I thought that went really well,” Drinkwitz said. “And everybody who was dinged up I think came back, only saw one green jersey in yesterday’s practice. We will be without Chad Bailey this week. I say without, he’d be questionable right now but I think we would know more Thursday … but we will put out an injury report. I’d say at best he’s questionable right now was able to go out there and observe yesterday but not sure exactly where that will be.

“But other than that, I think, you know, Ennis (Rakestraw Jr.) was good. It looked like he was going to be able to play, Marcellus Johnson was moving without a limp. And so that was really good to see. And Cody Schrader was out of the green jersey for the first time and I think six weeks so that was a real positive for us.”

Missouri nearing full health ahead of Georgia game

It’s going to be a challenge, one Drinkwitz is looking forward to. Missouri debuted No. 12 in the first College Football Playoff rankings while Georgia is No. 2.

Now that’s a game to watch this weekend.

“The goal was to get better, get healthy and get ahead on Georgia,” Drinkwitz said. “I think we accomplished that goal, had a really good practice last night in shells and got our guys back into the mindset of preparing for the challenge ahead. And it is going to be a very difficult challenge you know, I don’t think Coach Smart gets nearly enough credit for the job that he’s done at the University of Georgia. 

“I mean, two national titles played in five of the last six SEC championships. He’s got the best record in the first 100 games in the SEC …  You know, it’s really surprising to me that he’s never won a National Coach of the Year award.”

If Missouri pulls off the upset, it’ll certainly shake things up in the rankings and the outlook on the rest of the season. A big challenge indeed and the Tigers will at least be healthy.