Where Georgia football is on the injury front heading into the SEC Championship Game

ATHENS – Kirby Smart has said all season that his Georgia team has been struggling with injuries.

That statement still seems true heading into Saturday’s SEC Championship game against Texas.

Perhaps the most significant injury occurs on the defensive line, as the Bulldogs will likely be without defensive tackle Christen Miller. He suffered a shoulder injury against UMass and missed the game against Georgia Tech. The Yellow Jackets ran for 260 yards, the most Georgia has allowed since LSU rushed for 275 yards in 2018.

“If you had told me before the game that we would have them in the second seven-plus-16 games, I would have thought we did something really, really well,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said. “What we didn’t do was play really well on a couple of second and longs and a couple of third downs, which really cost us. But on the defensive line, we used more players there. We got to go in the well and play some younger guys and they hit blocks and did some good things.”

The running back position will also be worth watching for Georgia this weekend. Trevor Etienne continues to battle a rib injury, with Smart noting Sunday that the junior running back is doing everything he can to return for Saturday’s game against Texas. Etienne scored three rushing touchdowns the first time these two teams met in October.

At Georgia, Roderick Robinson made his season debut against the Yellow Jackets by rushing for three yards on four attempts. Robinson also added 34 receiving yards.

“He got his first live-action movie back and is still gaining confidence,” Smart said of Robinson. “He’s still finding his game speed back. You can’t repeat what he did in the game in practice. We’re trying. He got good reps throughout the week. I thought he did a great job in pass pro, an area he prides himself on, catching the ball in two minutes. He just needs to get used to carrying the ball again, running it and doing those things. He’s definitely very talented and we hope the longer he comes back, the more he’ll be 100%. I mean, he can’t just jump out and be 100%.”

Robinson had missed the first 11 games of the season with a toe injury. As for the other Robinson running back, Smart also provided an update on Branson Robinson. He has missed the last six games because of a knee injury suffered against Mississippi State.

“Yes, we’re hoping to get Branson back and get him back at the speed that he’s familiar with and comfortable with,” Smart said.

Georgia got a boost at the wide receiver position when Dillon Bell and Anthony Evans returned against Georgia Tech. Both missed the UMass game as Bell had an ankle injury and Evans was dealing with a hamstring injury.

“He brings toughness, experience and speed. “He has body speed and the ability to win duels,” Smart said of Bell. “I think he came out of the game pretty healthy. I think it bothered him at one point, but it was good to get him out healthy because we need him to be healthy for this game.”

A win for Georgia on Saturday against Texas would give the Bulldogs a chance to get some much-needed rest. The winner of the SEC Championship Game would not have to play again until January 1st, while the loser of the game would have to play either December 20th or 21st. With a team as injured as Georgia, this extension is necessary. A slip-up could be huge in a push for the championship.

Saturday’s game is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. ET on ABC.

Kirby Smart provides an update on Georgia’s football injury situation