ATHENS — It looks like Michael Chigbu, who has started half of Georgia’s games so far, won’t be able to play in the bowl game because of lingering knee issues.

Chigbu, a sophomore, missed the final two games of the season, and was not at Thursday’s bowl practice. In 10 games this year, six of which Chigbu started, the 6-foot-2, 213-pounder from New Orleans has nine catches for 88 yards.

“(Chigbu) is doubtful as a matter of fact and probably out for the bowl game,” head coach Kirby Smart. “There’s some stuff in his knee that he had to get cleaned up. He’s probably not going to be with us for the bowl game.”

Meanwhile, starting inside linebacker Natrez Patrick is getting “closer and closer” to being cleared to play, according to Smart. Patrick, also a sophomore, missed the last three games of the regular season because of a shoulder injury.

“It’s an injury that’s tough,” Smart said. “It’s a nerve injury so it’s one of those situations that we’ve got to be really careful with it, and (head athletic trainer) Ron (Courson) and his staff have done a great job, and Natrez has been in good spirits. I mean it killed him not to play in those games, and he’s worked really hard on it.”