Earnest Greene, DJ Waller injury update: Georgia, Kentucky reveal status of key players on Friday report

Both Georgia and Kentucky will be seeking to get back on the winning track in Saturday’s SEC showdown inside Athens’ Sanford Stadium. The game will kickoff at 12 noon ET and be televised on ABC.

The 12th-ranked Bulldogs (3-1, 1-1 SEC) are coming off their first home loss since 2019 after Alabama upset Georgia 24-21 last Saturday in Athens, while the Wildcats (2-2, 0-2 SEC) remain winless in SEC play this season after dropping games vs. Ole Miss and at South Carolina already.

Georgia has dominated the series with Kentucky, winning the past 15 straight meetings for a 64-12-2 all-time advantage, though the host Wildcats put a scare into UGA in a 13-12 loss last season in Lexington. Vegas isn’t betting on another home upset for the Bulldogs, who enter the game as a 20.5-point favorite according to BetMGM.  

Since this is an SEC matchup, Georgia and Kentucky will both release availability reports throughout the week. Friday night’s injury report marks the final glimpse at player status’ before the final report drops 90 minutes before the 12 noon ET kickoff Saturday.

No. 12 Georgia Bulldogs

TE Ethan Barbour – OUT
WR Thomas Blackshear – OUT
OL Earnest Greene III – OUT
WR Talyn Taylor – OUT
OL Malachi Toliver – OUT

Kentucky Wildcats

RB Jamarion Wilcox – OUT
DB Nasir Addison – OUT
DB Jaden Smith – OUT
WR Preston Bowman – OUT
DL Nic Smith – OUT
WR David Washington Jr. – OUT
TE Elijah Brown – OUT
DB DJ Waller Jr. – QUESTIONABLE
LB Devin Smith – QUESTIONABLE
OL Alex Wollschlaeger – QUESTIONABLE

Georgia already ruled junior right tackle Earnest Greene III (back) out for Saturday’s game against Kentucky in Wednesday’s initial availability report. This came after On3‘s Pete Nakos described Greene’s playing status as “doubtful” for what will be his second straight game out of commission. In reality, Greene has barely played a full half of football this season after starting but exiting in the first quarter of the season-opener against Marshall. Greene also started against Tennessee but didn’t play much before his lingering back injury forced him to the sideline once again.

With Greene out, the Bulldogs started sophomore Bo Hughley at right tackle against Alabama, but also worked in talented true freshman Juan Gaston at the position. UGA head coach Kirby Smart said the 6-foot-7, 360-pound Gaston is currently battling Hughley for reps in Saturday’s game against Kentucky. 

“The plan is to play the best guy that gives us the best chance to win. That’s the decision we have to make at every position,” Smart said during Wednesday’s weekly SEC Coaches Teleconference. “And right now, that’s those two guys (Hughley and Gaston). They are battling, they’re both growing and getting better. Both relatively young players, very different players.”

Meanwhile, Kentucky is dealing with its own injury issues, especially within its secondary having already ruled out DBs Nasir Addison and Jaden Smith, while DJ Waller Jr. was listed as “questionable” with a hamstring injury that has held him out of Kentucky’s last three games against Ole Miss, Eastern Michigan and South Carolina.

“I was hoping (Waller would be back vs. South Carolina), but it’s one of those injuries with a hamstring that’s touchy,” Stoops said Monday. “You know, it’s very frustrating for him. He’s worked very hard and you heard us talking a lot about him in camp and throughout the summer. He worked really hard and continues to work hard and it’s frustrating for him.”

On the bright side, Kentucky starting quarterback Zach Calzada could return to action this week after being ruled “probable” in Wednesday’s availability report. Calzada hasn’t played since suffering a shoulder injury late in Week 2 against Ole Miss, as freshman Cutter Boley has started the past two games at quarterback. Boley shined against Eastern Michigan, but struggled mightily against South Carolina. Meanwhile, Wildcats offensive lineman Aba Selm and linebacker Devin Smith were both listed as “questionable” on Wednesday’s report.

— On3’s Alex Byington and Chandler Vessels contributed to this report.