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Kirby Smart gives a surprising answer as he shares which position was most affected by the injury
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Kirby Smart gives a surprising answer as he shares which position was most affected by the injury

When you play as physical football as Georgia does, you’re bound to pick up some injuries.

And before Georgia’s game against No. 1 Texas, Georgia coach Kirby Smart gave a rather surprising answer about which position worries him most in terms of injury risk.

“It’s on the offensive line,” Smart told ESPN’s Scott Van Pelt. “You know, the last couple of weeks we’ve had guys in and out, in and out. We have a few guys in and out of practice this week. So it was difficult to put this group together, but I know they are one of the toughest groups we have, so they will be next and get ready for the fight and the game.”

In Georgia’s availability report released Thursday night, guard Tate Ratledge was listed as questionable, while center Jared Wilson is probable for Saturday’s game.

Ratledge has missed the last three games because of knee and ankle injuries sustained in Georgia’s win over Kentucky. The All-American guard was replaced in Georgia’s starting lineup by Micah Morris at right guard. Dylan Fairchild has started every game at left back up to this point in the season.

Center Wilson suffered a foot injury in Georgia’s loss to Alabama and has since missed games against Auburn and Mississippi State. Smart told reporters that Wilson was the backup center against Mississippi State last week.

“Jared was good. Jared has been practicing,” Smart said Tuesday. “Seems to be doing better in the last two days than in previous weeks. That’s good and he proved himself today.”

Drew Bobo has started the last two games at center for Georgia.

Despite all the injuries and reshuffles, Georgia’s offense hasn’t had the season many thought it would. The Bulldogs were left off the midseason Joe Moore Award Honor Roll, which recognized 22 of the best offensive lines in college football.

One of the teams on that list was the Texas Longhorns, who the Bulldogs face on Saturday. Smart knows his team will face a tremendous challenge on both sides of the ball.

“It’s an opportunity for us to show who we are and play against a really good football team,” Smart said. “So I think you’re blessed when you play at Georgia and play in games like that, and our guys will see it that way.”

Georgia’s game against Texas is scheduled for Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. As for the injured, an updated availability report will be released Friday evening. A final availability report will be posted online 90 minutes before kick-off.

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