LEXINGTON, Ky. — Georgia had to make another change to its starting offensive line on Saturday, as Tate Ratledge did not play in the 16-6 win over the Kentucky Wildcats. He had started the 10 previous games for Georgia at right guard.
A subluxation, or slight dislocation, is why Ratledge did not play. He did travel with the team to Kentucky. Smart did not specify which body part the injury occurred to.
“He practiced most of the week, he tried to go, but we didn’t feel like he could go in the game so Devin (Willock) went in there,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said.
Without Ratledge, Devin Willock got the start at right guard. Warren Ericson also rotated into the game for Georgia, but he played at left guard.
Left tackle Broderick Jones briefly left the game in the second quarter, but he returned on Georgia’s first drive of the second half and finished out the game.
The other notable absence was freshman wide receiver De’Nylon Morrissette. He did not travel with the team this week after doing so against Florida and Mississippi State.
“De’Nylon has got a little bit of a hamstring, knee bothering him, so he went some during the week,” Smart said. “We didn’t think he’d be able to go so we brought (Mekhi) Mews down.”
The windy conditions made things difficult for Georgia to throw the football, with the team’s leading receiver being Dominick Blaylock with just 38 yards.
The Bulldogs were once again without AD Mitchell, who missed his fifth-straight game with an ankle injury. He has played just five snaps since the game against Oregon.
One other travel roster change made was that tight end Arik Gilbert did not make the trip for Georgia, with the Bulldogs instead bringing Darris Smith.
Javon Bullard did start and play for Georgia after leaving last week’s game against Mississippi State with what Smart called a lower leg contusion. Bullard did pick up 0.5 sack in the win for the Bulldogs.
“You aren’t playing the same Kentucky Vanderbilt played, you’re going to play a different Kentucky,” Smart said. “They did a good job and the conditions limited themselves to a limited number of positions.”
Georgia has now wrapped up its SEC schedule, as the Bulldogs wrap things up next week with a game against Georgia Tech.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart updates Georgia football injury situation
More Georgia football stories from around DawgNation
- Georgia’s Kirby Smart joins Steve Spurrier, Nick Saban with back-to-back SEC perfection, ‘means something to this program’
- Georgia defense, run game come up big in 16-6 win at Kentucky
- Georgia football-Kentucky instant observations following win that leaves many cold
- Georgia football-Kentucky live updates, score, injury news and analysis for Week 12 game
- Jalen Carter set for big day at Kentucky; Kirby Smart dismisses Georgia offense No. 1 Red Zone rank
- Former Georgia football star Jake Fromm sizes up Stetson Bennett’s cold weather challenge at Kentucky
- Georgia football-Kentucky game time, TV channel, how to watch online, odds for Week 12 game (Nov. 19, 2022)
- UGA can accomplish rare feat vs. Kentucky
- Why AD Mitchell’s injury has lingered for so long and when he might return to the field: ‘I don’t think he’s worried’