Final injury report for Georgia-Alabama

It’s SEC Championship Saturday and that means it’s time for a final injury update on both Georgia and Alabama entering today’s game.

The Bulldogs have a couple of players beat up including four major contributors: left tackle Jamaree Salyer (foot), safety Christopher Smith (knee), running back Kendall Milton (knee) and wide receiver Kearis Jackson (ribs). All four of them either missed or left Georgia’s 45-0 win over in-state rival Georgia Tech last Saturday.

On Thursday, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said that all four have practiced throughout the week and that he was hopeful all four would be able to play against Alabama.

“We’re hopeful to have all four of those guys be able to play,” Smart said. “They’ve been able to participate in parts of practice all week and feel good about them, but again, it will boil down to a game-time decision, how they are in warmups and how they look.”

Kendall Milton

Milton’s injury is the one that happened the longest ago, however, it was likely the most serious of the batch. He suffered a sprained MCL, the same injury that he suffered last season, prior to the Florida game. Based on Smart’s comments, it sounds likely that the sophomore out of California will be able to make his return.

“He was close this week. Wasn’t able to go. Would have loved to have played him,” Smart said on Monday. “Going to try to work him back in some this week and just see where he is. That’s one of those things where it’s a confidence issue, an MCL — it was an MCL of the knee and he’s gained a lot more confidence. I know he looked a lot better on Saturday than he did on Wednesday and Thursday when he was out there warming up.”

Jamaree Salyer

As for Salyer, his injury occurred following the Florida game in the lead up to Missouri. He travelled and dressed for the Tennessee game, as well as Senior Day against Charleston Southern but aggravated the foot prior to Georgia Tech and did not dress for the regulars season finale. Based on Smart’s comments, he seems questionable, but Sedrick Van Pran seemed more optimistic.

“He’s great. He’s feeling very optimistic,” Van Pran said during the week. “He’s taking a lot of good reps, a lot of good sets. He looks really good to me. Just being optimistic, I really do feel good about him. It’s good.”

Christopher Smith

Smith first appeared on the injury report prior to Charleston Southern with a knee injury. Smart said that he “buckled his knee” in practice. He was seen on crutches prior to that game and jogged out slowly for Senior Day presentations. He did not play, nor did he against Georgia Tech. His status is questionable.

“As far as Chris, hopeful he’s able to go today,” Smart said on Monday. “He did some running yesterday, and we’re hopeful to get him back. But again, until I see it in practice I won’t know.”

Kearis Jackson

Finally, Jackson is the most likely to play of the group. He injured his ribs last Saturday against Georgia Tech and left the game. Prior to that, he had one reception for 16 yards plus two returns for a total of 20 yards.

“I thought he was going to be able to go back,” Smart said after the game on Saturday. “It’s a little bit of a rib injury. I don’t know how different it is from the one he had from a while back. I asked him and he said it was pretty painful and didn’t think he could go so held him out at that point.”

“As far as Kearis, we think he’s going to be fine,” he added on Monday. “It’s not bothering as bad right now, but we won’t know for sure until he goes out and practices this week.”

Alabama

Alabama isn’t without injury either. Running back Brian Robinson Jr. is questionable, potentially even doubtful, with a lower-body pulled muscle. The Crimson Tide are already without other running backs Jase McClellan and Roydell Williams.

Wide receiver JoJo Earle, tight end Robbie Outz are likely to be out while center Darrian Dalcourt is questionable as well. Cornerback Jalyn Armour-Davis is another name to watch having missed the Crimson Tide’s last game against Auburn.

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