Skip to main content
Georgia

Georgia Football Injury Report: Thursday night update on two Bulldog linemen

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe7 hours agoJakeMRowe
Juan Gaston Georgia
Georgia offensive lineman Juan Gaston Jr. (73) during Georgia’s practice session in Athens, Ga., on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. (Tony Walsh/UGAAA)

The SEC released its second official student-athlete availability report for this week and there’s no change for Georgia. Fourth-year junior right tackle Earnest Greene remains probable while freshman right guard Juan Gaston is questionable. Three true freshmen Bulldogs are out for the game — Ethan Barbour (tight end), Thomas Blackshear (wide receiver), and Chase Linton (outside linebacker).

Tennessee’s report also remains unchanged. It lists three players out, including it’s projected starting cornerbacks coming into the season. Ricky Gibson and Jermod McCoy won’t play. Neither will defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs.

The Vols also list four players as questionable. That group includes defensive lienman Tyron Weathersby, running back Hunter Barnes, defensive lineman Jaxon Moi, and offensive lineman David Sanders.

Greene was Georgia’s left tackle in 2023 when the Bulldogs beat the Volunteers 38-10 inside Neyland Stadium, but hasn’t played since the second series of the Bulldogs’ season-opening win against Marshall. He exited due some back tightness. He had back surgery in 2022, causing him to miss that entire season.

The California native started all 14 games at left tackle as a redshirt freshman. Then he started the first nine games at that position in 2024 before being sidelined with a left shoulder injury. Georgia turned to Monroe Freeling at left tackle, where he remains. The only start Greene has made this season was his first at right tackle.

Gaston also left the Marshall game after two series. He was Georgia’s first opening-game starter along the offensive line since 2017. His injury was apparent on the field as he was rolled up on as Gunner Stockton scored the second touchdown of the day. Gaston is battling both knee and ankle ailments, but is expected to return in the coming weeks, if not Saturday.

“Both of those guys showed good progress yesterday,” Smart said on Wednesday’s SEC coaches’ teleconference. “I really like the way both of them looked. I like the reps they took. They’ll take more reps today and just see where they are. We’ve got to make a good judgment. Today and tomorrow are physical days for us, so we still get after it, and we’ll find out where they are.”

Smart wants to see both players as healthy as possible before making them available for the Tennessee game. According to the 10th-year head coach, this is the type of matchup where Georgia needs all healthy hands on deck.

“This is not a game that you want somebody that’s not 100 percent healthy out there playing,” Smart said. “It’s going to be physical. It’s going to be quick, and it’s going to be violent. I mean, all SEC games are, but this one really is going to be that way…They (Tennessee) play with really big physical guys up front. You need all the power you can get. You need all the stamina you can get.”

Blackshear’s injury is undisclosed after catching one pass in the season opener. Linton has not appeared in a game this season after preseason surgery. Barbour suffered a gruesome ankle injury on Saturday in Georgia’s win over Austin Peay. He has undergone surgery and will be out for the rest of the year.

You may also like