ATHENS — The Bulldogs have their biggest test of the season this week with Alabama. What does the injury report look like for Georgia football heading into Saturday’s SEC championship game?

Kirby Smart offered some insight into his team’s health during his weekly Monday press conference. The latest update includes his thoughts on the availability of junior guard Ben Cleveland.

“Ben is in the same boat he has been in,” Smart said. “You guys ask about Ben every week. Ben’s fighting to get back. We think that Ben is not 100 percent but he is closer to 100 percent than he was yesterday. We keep trying to keep him back and doing all we can to get him back.”

Another pressing update looked to be sophomore ILB Monty Rice. Rice has missed the last two games with an ankle injury. He was on crutches on the sideline for the Georgia Tech game but was no longer immobilized in a walking boot.

Monty Rice was still on crutches on Saturday at the Georgia Tech game. He’s missed the last two games but is still second on the team in tackles. (Jeff Sentell/DawgNation)/Dawgnation)

“Monty wasn’t able to play Saturday,” Smart said on a Sunday night SEC teleconference. “He’s down to one crutch, and he’s trying to get back. I was talking to him after the game. He feels much better, but he’s not 100 percent. I’ll know a lot more probably tomorrow after practice.”

Rice has not played in the last two games. Yet the Alabama native still ranks second on the team with his 59 tackles.

Smart also addressed the prospect of Mays returning to action on Saturday against the Crimson Tide during that session.

“Don’t know that yet,” Smart said on that Sunday teleconference.

He said there were no further updates to give over the last 12-16 hours regarding Mays and Rice.

Freshman right guard Trey Hill has started the last two games for the Bulldogs since Mays went down. Hill limped off the field on Saturday afternoon against the Yellow Jackets and was immediately greeted by the training staff when he reached the sidelines.

Smart said that Hill was walking around after the game on Saturday and appeared to be fine.

“Trey is good to go,” Smart said. “He was pretty much out and about and moving around. I expect Trey to be fine.”

Hill earned that starting nod after Mays left the Auburn game with what Smart described as a shoulder stinger. He did dress out for Georgia Tech but did not see action. The 5-star freshman offensive tackle has played every position except center for the Bulldogs this fall.

Cleveland has been out with a slightly broken left fibula since Sept. 22 at Missouri. He has dressed out for the last few games and been on the punt shield team. He also saw action late in the Auburn game as an injury replacement for senior OL Kendall Baker.

 

Georgia football injury report OG Ben Cleveland (left fibula) probable OL Cade Mays (shoulder) questionable OL Kendall Baker (knee) out DB Divaad Wilson (knee) questionable DE David Marshall (foot) out DT DaQuan Hawkins-Muckle (unknown) questionable after missing the last seven games DB Ameer Speed (unknown) out DE Justin Young (unknown) out SS Jarvis Wilson (unknown) out DB Tray Bishop (internal team issue), out RB Zamir White (knee), out for season