ATHENS — Georgia coach Kirby Smart has done his due diligence to keep it a quiet week with as few distractions as possible, and that meant going to the extreme of closing practice on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The No. 3-ranked Bulldogs play host to No. 7 Notre Dame in a game that Smart said on the Wednesday SEC teleconference “will probably be unrivaled in Georgia history, from a non-conference standpoint.”
Georgia fans are thrilled, but there have been concerns this week with the news that starting cornerback Tyson Campbell was still limited in Tuesday’s practice.
Campbell played arguably his best half of football at the start of the Arkansas State game, but he did not return after halftime.
The former 5-star recruit was spotted running on the sideline, as though he was trying to jog off the injury. But the report from UGA was that he had a right foot injury.
Campbell arrived at Butts-Mehre Heritage Hall on Monday wearing a protective boot. He was not seen during the media viewing portion of Monday’s practice. Smart said following a closed Tuesday practice that Campbell took limited reps, and left it at that.
RELATED: Kirby Smart’s update on Tyson Campbell
The head coach has said he has been pleased in practice with the backups at cornerback, Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Daniel. But neither the true freshman (Stevenson) nor junior college transfer (Daniel) has seen much game action.
Smart said on Wednesday that receiver Demetris Robertson, who was held out of the Arkansas State game with what Smart described as a “lower body extremity” injury (hamstring), is “continuing to work and progressing well.”
Senior receiver Tyler Simmons, who played more than half of last season in a shoulder brace, could be in that situation again this year after getting slammed to the turf on the sideline agains Arkansas State.
Smart has said all week he expects Simmons to be able to go.
Freshman Dominick Blaylock stepped up in the slot last Saturday with Robertson and Simmons sidelined. Blaylock caught four passes for 112 yards and a TD against Arkansas State.
Right tackle Isaiah Wilson returned to practice on Monday from the sprained ankle he suffered on Sept. 4. Smart said he was “coming along well,” on Monday, but claimed not to pay much attention to him at Tuesday’s pracice.
Redshirt junior Ben Cleveland made his first start of the 2019 season last Saturday at right guard last Saturday and sophomore Cade Mays kicked out to Wilson’s previous spot at right tackle.
If Wilson is less than 100 percent it seems likely the Cleveland-Mays combo at right guard and right tackle will start of the game with the Irish.
Georgia injury report for Notre Dame
WR Tyler Simmons (shoulder) probable
WR Demetris Robertson (lower body) probable
DT Julian Rochester (knee) questionable
DT Tyson Campbell (foot) questionable
WR Kearis Jackson (hand) doubtful
WR Tommy Bush (groin) out
QB D’Wan Mathis (head) out
