Georgia will have to get through Saturday without Chauncey Bowens, but the latest update suggests this may not be a long-term problem.
The Bulldogs running back has officially been ruled out for this weekend’s game against Florida, marking his third straight missed game. That stings for Georgia’s offense, especially after the kind of start Bowens made to the season. Still, the situation does not appear as bleak as it once did.
What gives Georgia some breathing room is the group waiting behind him. Nate Frazier remains the No. 1 back on the depth chart, and after dealing with an injury earlier this year, he returned against Auburn two weeks ago. With an extra week of rest since then, he should be back to 100 percent if he wasn’t already.
Georgia also has Dwight Phillips, who has been productive throughout the season. He has 348 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and his biggest showing came at Alabama, where he ran for 120 yards while both Frazier and Bowens were sidelined. Bo Walker has chipped in too, with 203 yards on only 20 carries.
The Bulldogs would clearly be stronger with Bowens available, but the backfield still has enough in it to handle Florida on the ground.
There is also reason to believe Bowens is moving closer to a return. Just last week, there were worries he might be out for a big chunk of the season.
That no longer seems to be the case. He was still listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report, which is a better sign than being ruled out days earlier.
There were also reports earlier this week that Bowens had been back at practice. He was said to be taking part in agility drills, though not full-contact work yet. Even so, that points in the right direction.
Georgia’s challenge now is the same one the best teams face every season: keep winning while pieces are missing. The encouraging part for the Bulldogs is that Bowens looks to be trending back toward the lineup. With Ole Miss coming next weekend, that would be a natural spot for his return.
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Kirby Smart said Robinsons knee tightened up, and there was no confirmed structural damage at the time of the report, but the bigger issue now is his status going forward. For a defense that leans on depth and versatility in the back end, the uncertainty around Robinsons availability is the kind of development that can linger well beyond a rivalry game. [Read more 🡒]