Georgia injury report: Smart offers latest on Jalen Carter, others
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia continues to battle multiple injuries, including a few to key players, heading into its week six matchup with Auburn (3:30 p.m. ET on CBS). In his usual Monday meeting with UGA reporters, Kirby Smart gave the latest on where the Bulldogs stand on that front, including junior defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
“Jalen’s going to be a week or two,” Smart said on Monday while saying that Carter is dealing with an MCL injury in his knee. “…It doesn’t look this week.”
The injury to Jalen Carter is the most significant seeing as how he was the main holdover from a dominant Georgia defensive line in 2021. He has been banged up since the Oregon game where he suffered an ankle injury. He played roughly the same amount of snaps in weeks two, three, and four that he played in week one.
Jalen Carter went down in the first quarter of UGA’s 26-22 win over Missouri with a knee injury. He was chop blocked on the play with a Missouri lineman engaging him up high and another blocking him low.
Smart was asked about the illegal block to Jalen Carter on Monday. He noted that he had a conversation with the officials but that anything being done about it after the fact is out of his control. Smart also added that, ultimately, it doesn’t matter what he thinks of the block.
Sophomore inside linebacker Smael Mondon also missed a significant portion of the Missouri game as well. According to Smart, he has an ankle sprain but should be “fine.”
He racked up five total tackles, four solo stops, and a tackle for loss. Mondon returned and was at inside linebacker for Mizzou’s final two possessions of the game.
He’s not the only Georgia inside linebacker battling an ailment, either. Smart said after the game that fourth-year junior Trezmen Marshall is basically playing on one leg right now due to a knee issue.
Sophomore wide receiver AD Mitchell and redshirt freshman cornerback Nyland Green are, theoretically, able to play. Both were on the 70-man travel roster for the Missouri game. Both dressed out for the contest. Georgia isn’t in the habit of traveling players and dressing them out if they aren’t available to play.
Smart said on Monday that Mitchell was close to being able to go vs. Missouri. He also noted that the sophomore pass catcher looked good during pregame warmup.
Senior running back Kenny McIntosh had his best rushing game of the season against Missouri but he’s not 100 percent. McIntosh is dealing with a thigh contusion.
“He’s not full go,” Smart said after the win over Missouri. “We’re trying to get him back. It’s a quad contusion. I don’t think it got worse tonight so hopefully he’ll recover quickly. But in this league, man, who’s not beat up? I promise you every team in the SEC going home tonight is beat up. It’s physical. It’s tough. It’s why you’ve got to have depth.”
