ATHENS — Georgia tailback James Cook was cleared to come back into the game after suffering what appeared to be an arm injury in the first half, according to Kirby Smart.

“I think James is fine, and at the point he could have come back in the game if we needed him to, Ron (Courson) said that he wasn’t going to bring him back,” Smart said. “But he was ready to go the second half.”

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Cook had five carries for 41 yards, running fast, physical and elusive to shake off a dreadful opening week performance at Arkansas.

Cook went to the locker room for evaluation at the 8:42 mark of the second quarter.

The Bulldogs’ run game as a whole took a massive step forward with 217 yards on the ground on 45 carries, and average of 4.5 per attempt.

Quarterback Stetson Bennett, who hit his hand on a helmet following though on a pass late in the game, also checked out as OK, according to Smart.

Bennett was 17-of-28 passing for 240 yards and a  touchdown in his first career start with the Bulldogs, a 27-6 win over Auburn.

Smart cleared up the absence of starting offensive tackle Warren McClendon, sharing that he cramped up late.

McClendon started in place of Owen Condon.

Florida State graduate transfer tight end Tre’ McKitty was in uniform and warmed up before the game, but he did not see action.

USC transfer quarterback JT Daniels was also warmed up and cleared to play. But Daniels, who remains in a knee brace was not needed against Auburn.

Georgia freshman wide receiver Arian Smith, who some have said is now the fastest man on the Bulldogs’ team, shared on social media he’s only a couple of weeks from returning from the torn meniscus he suffered in July.