ATHENS — Georgia freshman tailback Andrew Paul as a torn ACL as a result of the injury DawgNation reported forced him to the sideline during Scrimmage Two on Saturday.
On3Sports was first to report that Paul’s injury is an ACL tear, which will likely sideline him for the remainder of the season.
The injury leaves the No. 3-ranked Bulldogs thin at the running back position behind starter Kenny McIntosh, as Kendal Milton has missed the first two scrimmages on account of a pulled hamstring.
RELATED: 5 takeaways after Georgia scrimmage, team health among concerns in rebuilding year
Daijun Edwards, who was No. 5 on UGA’s running back depth chart last season, has been running behind McIntosh as the No. 2 with Milton sidelined again.
Milton, who is expected to recover in time for the Sept. 3 opening game against No. 11 Oregon, has missed time each of the past two seasons with sprained knee injuries.
WATCH: Dan Lanning discusses physical scrimmage in Oregon, Ducks flying high
Incoming freshman running back Branson Robinson is the only other scholarship running back on the roster.
Running backs coach Dell McGee said UGA typically likes to have six scholarship running backs on the roster, which would mean the Bulldogs are two short entering the season.
“We always like to keep five on our roster, (but) our lineup number is six,” McGee said. “We’ve been kind of shorting that number because of the talent that we’ve had in the room.”
McGee spoke highly of Paul, who Georgia beat Clemson for late in the recruiting process.
“Great size, has good speed, he’s a great kid from a great family,” McGee said. “Very quiet, hard worker, so he fits all the character of things we’re looking for in our football player.”
Paul has proven a tough and resilient young man before, as DawgNation’s Jeff Sentell reported he overcame a car accident and tree falling on his vehicle during his high school season:
“Paul was involved in a chilling car accident the week of the district championship game. A tree fell on his car and totaled it. It was a rainy day and his vehicle hydroplaned into the tree. He proceeded to run for 400-plus yards in leading his team to a victory in the district title game.”
Paul’s injury will likely trigger a chain reaction on special teams, as McIntosh has been one of the primary kick returners.
Receiver Kearis Jackson, the primary punt returner, was held out of the second half of scrimmage on Saturday on account of what Coach Kirby Smart said was an ankle or Achilles injury.
RELATED: Kearis Jackson first player Kirby mentions on injury report
Receiver Ladd McConkey has proven a capable return man when Jackson has missed time before with injuries, but the receiver ranks are somewhat thin, as well.
At the receiver position, the Bulldogs had already lost Arian Smith indefinitely after he underwent ankle surgery earlier this fall.
Freshman receiver De’Nyland Morrissette has also been out with a hyperextended knee.
Smart has said there are several roles on special teams that need to be filled on the heels of the Bulldogs’ record-breaking 2022 NFL Draft class.
