ATHENS — The Georgia football team is getting healthier with South Carolina coming to town for a noon game on Saturday at Sanford Stadium.
Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart provided an encouraging update on Tuesday night, indicating that starters Jordan Davis and Tyson Campbell were healing quickly.
Another player who completed a long and strenuous rehabilitation saw his first acton of the season last Saturday in the 43-14 win over Tennessee, senior defensive tackle Julian Rochester.
“Julian played well, he came in and has just been practicing,” Smart said earlier this week. “We’ve been grooming him to get him ready and get him in the rotation and felt like it was the time to do it.
“He’ll get opportunities to continue doing that if he continues to do everything he’s supposed to do and work hard in practice, if he continues to do that.”
Smart indicated after last Saturday’s game that Rochester was pressed into action once Davis went down with an ankle injury the second play of the game.
Rochester underwent offseason knee surgery to repair a torn ACL suffered in the 2018 postseason.
The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0 SEC) figure to be tested on the ground by the Gamecocks (2-3, 1-2) in this ESPN-televised game.
Smart has said the defensive front needs to sharpen up this week.
“The biggest thing is we’ve got to get some quickness and production out of those guys,” Smart said. “That’s what we’re hoping (Rochester) can help with.”
Davis has been ahead of schedule, so it’s likely he’ll be available to face the Gamecocks if needed.
Offensive guard Solomon Kindley was available last Saturday but didn’t play. Kindley, who injured his ankle in the 23-17 win over Notre Dame on Sept. 17, is expected to play and might reclaim the starting spot at left guard.
Campbell has been out since the first half of the 55-0 win over Arkansas State on Sept. 14.
Smart said Campbell was running in practice this week, but as of Tuesday night he hadn’t had the sort of reps that would prepare him for a return to the lineup.
Junior college transfer DJ Daniel figures to get this third start of the season.
Georgia football injury report
Solomon Kindley (ankle), probable
Jordan Davis (ankle) questionable
Travon Walker (unknown) questionable
Tyson Campbell (foot) questionable
D’Wan Mathis (head) out
Tommy Bush (groin) out
