Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart provided a few injury updates on players like Xavier Truss, Roderick Robinson, and Kendall Milton ahead of the Florida game.
Georgia (7-0) plays Florida (5-2) in Jacksonville, Florida, on Oct. 28 at 3:30 p.m. The SEC East rivalry game will be televised on CBS.
Both teams are coming off bye weeks, as usual, and have had extensive time to prepare for each other. Georgia did a significant amount of self-scouting during the bye week.
What did Georgia football coach Kirby Smart have to say ahead of the Georgia-Florida game?
Injury update: running back Roderick Robinson
True freshman Roderick Robinson is one of Georgia’s best pure rushers of the football. Robinson missed the Vanderbilt game with an ankle injury, but appears to be ready to return.
Rod was able to go a lot of last week (in practice).
Robinson has 15 carries for 89 rushing yards and two touchdowns this season.
Injury update: offensive guard Tate Ratledge
Georgia offensive guard Tate Ratledge is one of the top offensive linemen in the SEC. Ratledge picked up an elbow injury in Georgia’s Oct. 14 game against Vanderbilt, but appears to be trending in the right direction ahead of the Georgia-Florida game.
Tate had an elbow coming out of the Vanderbilt game, but he’s been fine. He practiced all last week with that elbow.
Injury update: running back Kendall Milton
Georgia running back Kendall Milton’s knee flared up against Vanderbilt. Milton finished with five carries for 53 yards and a touchdown against the Commodores, but he was limited due to his MCL. Milton took a helmet to the knee. Milton was able to practice last week. However, he had limits on the amount of reps he was receiving.
Kendall was good last week. He pushed through. Did a good job. We’ll see where he is today.
Smart elects not to update the status of Brock Bowers
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart does not want to focus on Brock Bowers as the Bulldogs prepare for Florida. Bowers is out for the Florida game after undergoing ankle surgery.
I’m not going to focus on that right now. I think that’s all speculation. I’m not getting into the speculation part of it.
Instead, Kirby Smart is focused on playing against a strong opponent in Florida.
Most important thing is our guys and getting prepared for Florida.
Injury update: offensive tackle Amarius Mims
Amarius Mims has been out for several weeks after undergoing tightrope surgery on his ankle. Mims originally hurt his ankle against the South Carolina Gamecocks. There’s a chance Mims is able to return for the Florida game.
Find out a lot more today. (Mims was) able to do some different things last week in the off week and a lot of rehab, a lot of maintenance, a lot of getting back. But until I see (Mims) out there today I probably wouldn’t be a good judge to be able to tell.
Injury update: offensive lineman Xavier Truss
Xavier Truss suffered an ankle injury that was not considered severe. Truss has missed some practice time and needs to show improvement with his injury in order to return to being a full participant in practice.
Find out a lot more today. (Truss and Mims) were able to do some different things last week in the off week and a lot of rehab, a lot of maintenance, a lot of getting back. But until I see them out there today I probably wouldn’t be a good judge to be able to tell.
Smart on how Florida has improved
Florida is the No. 26 team in the US LBM Coaches Poll. The Gators (5-2) have an ugly defeat to Kentucky, but look good offensively in their last game at South Carolina.
They played their best football probably the last two weeks or so.
Georgia will have to watch out for Florida’s explosive group of running backs.
A team that runs the ball well, that’s what they should do. They have a stable of backs that’s are as good a backs as we’ve faced.
Smart on Florida quarterback Graham Mertz
Florida quarterback Graham Mertz has played much better in recent weeks. Mertz has 12 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. The Wisconsin transfer has done a good job of taking care of the football this year.
You look at the statistics on their quarterback, he’s probably — I mean, maybe the No. 1 quarterback in the country for two games in terms of the way he has played. You can tell he’s got a lot of confidence in their offense and their system.
On Florida star receiver Ricky Pearsall
He’s been a very consistent, explosive playmaker. Tough. They move him around a lot. He’s not just a sit-there-and-play guy. He’s worked the slot. He had done double moves. He’s been a vertical guy. He makes a lot of plays.
