ATHENS — As Georgia returned to the practice field on Monday, it got some good news: Jordan Jenkins, perhaps the best player on its defense, was back.

And it wasn’t the only good news on the injury front for the Bulldogs, who appear on the verge of getting several key players back for Saturday’s game against Georgia.

Receiver-kick returner Isaiah McKenzie and defensive linemen John Atkins and Chris Mayes are all expected to play this week, head coach Mark Richt said on his radio show Monday night. All missed the Missouri game, along with Jenkins, who Richt said should also play.

“We definitely needed a bye week. I feel like practice today was a lot more energized,” sophomore linebacker Davin Bellamy said. “Having a bye week gets you missing football again.”

Jenkins missed the Missouri game with a groin strain, which had been bothering him for several weeks. It was the first game the senior outside linebacker had missed in his four years at Georgia. Jenkins also sat out last week’s bye week practices.  He is tied for the team lead with three sacks, and leads the Bulldogs with 7.5 tackles-for-loss.

“Jordan definitely gets us riled up for a game,” Bellamy said. “He’s a great player also, and seeing him make a play kinda makes everyone else make a play. So we’re kinda glad to have him back.”