Georgia football injury update for Murray State: Shake-up on offensive line

ATHENS — Georgia’s offensive line is in for a shake-up after right tackle Isaiah Wilson suffered a lower body injury in Wednesday’s practice that will lead to him missing time.

The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs (1-0) play host to FCS Murray State (1-0) at 4 p.m. on Saturday in Sanford Stadium. (TV: ESPN2).

Wilson was injured during a “thud” drill during the latter stages of Georgia’s practice, DawgNation has learned. Wilson is expected to miss an extended amount of time, but Coach Kirby Smart has not yet addressed the injury.

It would seem one likely adjustment for Saturday’s game is for sophomore Cade Mays to move from right guard to right tackle, and redshirt junior Ben Cleveland to get the start at right guard.

At practice, however, sophomore offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer was the next man up after Wilson left the field with injury.

Salyer figures to see his first action of the year after returning to practice on Tuesday, though his conditioning would be a question mark.

Salyer missed more than a week of practice with an undisclosed lower body injury suffered on Aug. 20.

Mays started at right guard against Vanderbilt, with Cleveland rotating in. Cleveland and Mays rotated at right guard through fall drills.

Mays also established himself as Georgia’s most versatile lineman in fall camp, capable of playing all five offensive line positions.

When I tell you @GeorgiaFootball guard Cade Mays plays the game the way it’s supposed to be played...👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/Ams2CzDlx7
— Cole Cubelic (@colecubelic) September 3, 2019

Wilson could be the second starter dealt an injury that will force him to miss time.

Redshirt freshman Kearis Jackson started at receiver against Vanderbilt on Saturday but he’s not expected to dress out for the game with Murray State.

Smart said Jackson will be out three to four weeks after breaking bones in his hand/wrist area at the end of a fourth quarter catch in the 30-6 win over the Commodores.

Jackson’s injury elevates freshman slot receiver Dominick Blaylock in the rotation. Blaylock traveled to Nashville for the Vanderbilt game, but he didn’t play.

Junior Demetris Robertson will get the start in the slot, assuming the Bulldogs open in their base offensive formation with three receivers.

Inside linebacker Nakobe Dean is another freshman who could see action on Saturday, depending on how far along he has come in his recovery from an ankle injury.

Dean play a very limited amount against Vanderbilt and practiced this week, even though Smart said he opened the week less than 100 percent.

“Nakobe (Dean’s) hurting still, we thought he was close to being able to go in the game and it’s still bothering Nakobe,” Smart said on Monday. “He’s not 100 percent yet. It was tough for him not to go out there but he didn’t feel like he could go 100 percent so we held him out after that.”

Smart said on Tuesday that freshman offensive lineman Clay Webb has had an illness, putting his status for the game in question.

Sophomore Tramel Walthour has been “dinged up” according to Smart, and he’s not expected to play against Murray State.

Georgia injury report for Murray State

LB Nakobe Dean (ankle), probable

OL Jamaree Salyer (ankle/foot), probable

DL Julian Rochester (knee), questionable

TE Ryland Goede (hand), questionable

C Clay Webb (illness), doubtful

DL Tramel Walthour (lower body), doubtful

OL Isaiah Wilson (ankle), out

QB D’Wan Mathis (head), out

WR Kearis Jackson (hand), out