Kirby Smart gives Kendall Milton, Smael Mondon, Jalen Carter injury update

Georgia coach Kirby Smart provided some news Monday in the form of a Kendall Milton, Smael Mondon and Jalen Carter injury update as the three Bulldogs players continue to recover from various ailments.

He’s hopeful all three might be able to play this weekend against Vanderbilt, the team’s final game before a midseason bye week.

“Don’t know, I’ll have to wait and see,” Smart said. “I haven’t seen them yet. Jalen, obviously, we’re going to find out. He’s every day, he’s getting better, he’s rehabbing, he’s doing more. I’ll see more today.

“Smael was close to being able to go in the game. Didn’t practice a lot last week. Hopeful to get him back this week and same with Kendall.”

Carter has been in and out of the lineup this season at various points. He was banged up in the team’s season opener against Oregon but has played through that injury.

Unfortunately, he suffered an MCL injury against Missouri on Oct. 1, one that kept him out of this weekend’s 42-10 win over Auburn. Jalen Carter’s injury has limited him, with the veteran defensive lineman recording five tackles on the season, as well as seven quarterback hurries and one pass breakup.

Mondon, meanwhile, has had a significant impact at the linebacker position. He currently ranks third on the team in tackles with 22, also chipping in 3.5 tackles for a loss and five quarterback hurries. He has dealt with an ankle injury.

Could Kendall Milton return boost offense?

Milton left Saturday’s game against the Tigers with a groin injury, diminishing the depth available to the Bulldogs in the backfield.

A junior, Milton is one yard shy of the team lead in rushing, having accounted for 284 yards and four touchdowns on 46 carries. He’s averaging 6.2 yards per carry, making him a reliable and consistent threat.

And Georgia just wasn’t quite clicking offensively in the early going against Auburn.

“I don’t know what it is,” quarterback Stetson Bennett IV said in a postgame interview. “I think we’ve got to talk and just figure out. We’ve got to get our moxie back a little bit. But we’ll figure that out this week.”

After averaging 7.91 yards per play in the first three games of the season, Georgia’s average has fallen to 6.65 in the last three games.

In any case, the Bulldogs are hoping to have Kendall Milton, Smael Mondon and Jalen Carter injury free this weekend against the Commodores.