AD Mitchell, Georgia players 'getting closer' to return from injury
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart spoke on the SEC coaches weekly teleconference call on Wednesday and provided an injury update on several Bulldogs. According the Smart, it seems that the injury news is trending in the right way.
“We’re really hopeful to get AD (Mitchell) back. He’s getting closer,” Smart said. Nyland (Green) hit some good speeds yesterday. He’s running. Don’t know that he’ll be able to play this week but he’s getting closer. And Earnest Greene has looked the best he has all year. He’s working off with the offense and with the scouts. He doubles up, he gets extra work against us (the defense) and also goes with the offense. He’s further along than he’s been. He may be available for this game, just really depends on how today’s practice goes and Thursday.”
AD Mitchell missed all of last week’s Georgia win over South Carolina and the majority of the previous week’s victory over Samford with a left ankle injury that sent him to the sideline on the first play of that game. He immediately went into the injury tent before heading to the locker room with the help of trainers only to not return to the sideline during the game.
Smart’s tone regarding Mitchell’s injury has changed over time. In his postgame press conference, he said that he believed Mitchell could have made a return if necessary. The following week he was ‘hopeful’ before being ‘doubtful’ that the sophomore wide receiver could play on Saturday. Based on Smart’s comments Wednesday during the teleconference, it certainly seems that Mitchell is trending in the right direction.
As for Nyland Green and Earnest Greene, both are battling hamstring issues. The redshirt freshman corner played in the opener against Oregon before not dressing out versus Samford. He did not make the trip to South Carolina. Meanwhile, Greene, a true freshman offensive lineman, has dealt with the injury since fall camp and has been able to dress for every game. Even in the blowouts, he has not played, but making the 70-man travel roster gives a better indication of where he stands on the two-deep depth chart.
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Finally, Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter is also dealing with an ankle injury. Smart made mention of it on Saturday before the game to the broadcast crews and afterwards to media in his postgame press conference. Carter played 11 snaps despite being banged up.
“Still don’t know. He was limited yesterday, so it’ll remain to be that way today and we’ll see how he’s able to push through,” Smart said when asked if Carter would be limited at all this week. “It’s not a severe ankle injury, but he plays a position you put a lot of stress on that when you’re playing a double team, playing a block, you’re putting a lot more load on it maybe than a receiver or a DB.”
Georgia takes on Kent State Saturday at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff time between the Bulldogs and Golden Flashes is set for 12:00 p.m. ET, streaming on SEC Network+.
