ATHENS — Georgia offensive tackle Isaiah Wilson has an ankle sprain that’s not expected to keep him out of action for a significant amount of time, Coach Kirby Smart said on his Thursday night radio show.
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“Isaiah is a tough guy, and we think he’s going to be ok,” Smart said on Bulldogs Live. “We’ll keep on driving, we’ll keep on moving, we’ve got a lot of guys who’ve played here, and kinda dealt with the same kind of injury last year with Andrew (Thomas).
“It’s frustrating for him to miss time, but when you’re in the trenches, that’s what happens.”
Wilson suffered the ankle injury near the end of Georgia’s practice on Wednesday after the Bulldogs had moved indoors. There were fears the injury could be more significant, as Wilson left on cart.
The UGA offensive line was first shuffled last season when Thomas suffered an ankle sprain against South Carolina in the second game. Thomas missed the next game against Middle Tennessee State, leading to Cade Mays getting his first career start.
Mays is also strong candidate to get the start at right tackle with Wilson out for the 4 p.m. game on Saturday at Sanford Stadium against Murray State.
Mays started last Saturday’s 30-6 season-opening win at Vanderbilt at right guard, alternating with Ben Cleveland. With Wilson out, Cleveland could get the start at guard with the versatile Mays sliding outside to tackle.
Sophomore Jamaree Salyer returned to practice this week after returning from from a lower-body injury suffered on Aug. 20. Salyer is also expected to get work against Murray State.
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Smart said Georgia has worked hard to recruit so impressively on the offensive and defensive lines, but there are only so many players with the necessary size and skills.
“You do all you can, you try to get as many as you can,” Smart said, “but it’s hard replacing tackles, they’re just hard body types to find.”
Redshirt freshman receiver Kearis Jackson is the other Georgia starter expected to miss the Murray State game. Smart said earlier in the week he expected Jackson out “three to four weeks” with a broken hand.
“I hate that because he worked so hard, the kid has had some tough luck since he’s been here,” Smart said Thursday night. “He’s had a couple of bumps and bruises and issues, and he really played physical the other night. He started off the game coming off the ball attacking people, hitting people in the mouth and really playing well.
“It’s a freaky deal; he catches the ball, he sustains the hit and he keeps the ball, and then he ends up getting the ball punched out and ends up breaking his hand, so it’s a tough deal, but hopefully we’ll get him back soon.”
Junior Demetris Robertson will likely start in the slot, and freshman Dominick Blaylock has been working second-team leading up to the game this Saturday.
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