Earnest Greene, Juan Gaston injury update: Kirby Smart reveals latest status for Tennessee game

The Georgia Bulldogs have gotten off to a 2-0 start in 2025. That’s despite several injuries popping up early in the season. Now, with SEC play kicking off on the road at Tennessee, head coach Kirby Smart knows he needs his Bulldogs as healthy as possible.

Recently, Smart shared what he now knows about a pair of offensive linemen for Georgia, Earnest Greene and Juan Gaston, who have been dealing with injuries. Ultimately, the Bulldogs are still forced to wait and see, but there is hope that the pair can get back on the field soon.

“Both Juan and Earnest we’ll learn more about today,” Kirby Smart said. “And see where they are. They’re both coming off of bumps, bruises, and injuries. But, hopefully, we get them back.”

Previously, Smart shared that both Greene and Gaston were dealing with lower-body injuries. However, Georgia has not been more specific about the issues yet. Luckily, neither seem to be long-term concerns moving forward for Georgia.

Juan Gaston was a four-star recruit in the Class of 2025. A Westlake, Georgia native, he was the 62nd-ranked recruit overall and the fourth-ranked interior offensive lineman in that recruiting cycle. He would be quickly thrown into the fire at Georgia. There, he’d become the first true freshman Georgia offensive lineman to start in a season opener since 2017, but he’d suffer an apparent ankle injury in that opening game.

Earnest Greene, meanwhile, is a veteran who has been at Georgia since 2022 and played in 25 games while making 23 starts over the past two seasons. He’d also get banged up in the game against Marshall. Greene previously missed the entire 2022 season after needing back surgery. Now, it’s been reported he’s dealing with some kind of back stiffness.

The Georgia Bulldogs seemed to struggle at times on the offensive side of the ball in Week 2 against Austin Peay. That game, which was delayed due to bad weather, saw the Bulldogs only put up 28 points. In the process, they gained 5.5 yards per play and had 190 rushing yards. However, two turnovers slowed the Bulldogs down.

Tennessee is, obviously, a major step up in competition. The Volunteers have a strong defensive line and are going to look to create havoc in the backfield on Saturday. Kirby Smart knows keeping the pocket clean and establishing the run is going to be vital to help Gunner Stockton play a game good enough to win in Knoxville.