Amarius Mims returns to Georgia sideline vs. South Carolina, seen with crutches and boot

Amarius Mims is back on the sideline for Georgia against South Carolina after suffering an injury. However, he’s walking with crutches and a boot on his left foot — putting his status in doubt for the remainder of the game.

Mims went down in the first half of the contest with an apparent leg injury as he went to make a block in the second quarter. He ended up walking to the locker room, but it doesn’t appear he’ll be ready to go back in the game for Georgia after the Bulldogs trailed South Carolina at halftime.

Later in the third quarter, CBS’ Jenny Dell confirmed Mims’ day was over as he deals with an ankle injury.

“Amarius Mims, who needed help off the field at the end of the first, he is out here on crutches,” Dell said. “Done for the day with a left ankle injury.”

Mims was a preseason All-SEC team selection this year after serving as a reserve offensive lineman last season en route to a second consecutive national championship. He also got plenty of experience in the College Football Playoff as he appeared on 35% of Georgia’s snaps on offense in the CFP, and was effectively a starter last season.

Heading into halftime, Kirby Smart noted the Bulldogs would be shorthanded as they tried to erase their first double-digit halftime deficit since 2015. Of course, it didn’t take long for Georgia to get back on track and take a 17-14 lead over South Carolina with 7:40 to play in the third quarter.

“We get the ball first,” Smart told CBS’ Jenny Dell. “And that’s big. We get the ball first. We were trying to double a possession there, get points and then start out the second quarter. But a little out of rhythm on offense. They’re doing a good job defensively. And we’ve some guys down we’ve got to make up for. Guys got to step up.”

More on Amarius Mims’ injury, others out for Georgia vs. South Carolina

Smart previously praised Mims for the job he’s done on the Georgia offensive line, but pointed out it’s important to keep improving and cleaning things up.

“Amarius has done a good job. He’s played well, especially in the pass game and continues to work on the run game with getting movement,” Smart said, via DawgsHQ’s Palmer Thombs. “He’s a guy that got really good experience last year in terms of the end of the year with the injuries we had. He really played like a starter last year. He’s continued to do that this year. He and the rest of the o-line unit, we need a really solid performance out of them in terms of protection and movement up front to create run game.”