Georgia’s latest injury report is short, but it still carries real weight heading into Saturday’s matchup with No. 22 Missouri.
The Bulldogs and Tigers kick off at 3:30 on ABC at Sanford Stadium, with both teams coming off big swings last weekend. Missouri fell 34-20 to No.
7 Texas, a loss that pushed the Tigers deeper into the conversation about whether they can get back to the College Football Playoff. Georgia, meanwhile, rolled past No.
10 Ole Miss 42-7 and kept moving toward what would be a third straight CFP trip.
For Georgia, though, the larger issue has been how injuries have hit at exactly the wrong times in recent postseason runs. In 2024, starting quarterback Carson Beck went down with a season-ending injury in the SEC Championship Game, which opened the door for Gunner Stockton to make his first career start against Norte Dame in the Sugar Bowl. The combination of that injury and turnovers proved too much for the Bulldogs to overcome.
A year earlier, Georgia was without two key starters in the Sugar Bowl against Ole Miss: center Drew Bobo and pass rusher Gabe Harris. The Bulldogs lost on the final play in New Orleans.
This time, Georgia listed only two players on its injury report: defensive lineman Josh Horton and linebacker Amaris Williams. Williams had been expected to sit, while Horton is the new name on the report. Horton is questionable for the game, and Williams is out, meaning he will not play.
Missouri has four players ruled out: defensive lineman Langden Kitchen, running back Malae Fonoti, offensive lineman Josh Atkins and tight end Gavin Hoffman.
Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is also listed as probable for the Rebels’ game this weekend at Oklahoma. He is one of 18 Ole Miss players on the injury report after Georgia’s 42-7 win in Oxford.
Overall, Georgia enters the week in solid shape health-wise. If Isiah Canion and Chauncey Bowens can get back to full strength, the Bulldogs could become even more dangerous on offense. Kirby Smart said earlier this week that Bowens was not 100% healthy.
There is also some curiosity around Williams’ status for the rest of the season. He suffered an ALC injury in the spring, and while the timeline would be tight, it is still possible he could return for the playoffs, similar to how WR George Pickens came back late in the 2021 season after an ACL injury around the same time.
In Other News...
Georgia Tech Needs More Than An Upset Against Clemson
Georgia Tech heads into its matchup with Clemson trying to steady itself after four straight losses, and the timing of the coaching staff changes only adds to the sense that this is more than just another ACC game. The Yellow Jackets have spent the week searching for answers in all three phases, with special teams, offense and defense each needing sharper execution if they are going to make the kind of statement that changes the feel around the program.
Clemson brings a defense that can make life difficult for any opponent, which is part of why ESPNs Football Power Index gives Georgia Tech only a 15.7% chance to win. An upset would obviously grab attention, but the larger question is whether the Yellow Jackets can show enough progress to suggest the recent changes are starting to matter, even if the final result still leaves plenty unresolved. [Read more 🡒]
Aidan Birr Made A Painful Admission As Georgia Tech Tries To Recover
Georgia Techs recent skid has put plenty of pressure on the whole roster, and Aidan Birr stepped up this week to address not just the teams struggles, but his own role in them. The kicker spoke candidly with the media about the frustration around the season and the responsibility he feels as the Yellow Jackets try to steady themselves down the stretch, stressing that the standard inside the program still matters even when results are not matching it.
Birr also offered a glimpse into how he is trying to reset mentally as the season moves forward. He said he has been working on his focus and execution by reading a book about the unconscious mind, part of an effort to clear out the noise and handle the pressure that comes with kicking in a difficult stretch. For Georgia Tech, the hope is that his next steps on the field can match the accountability he showed off it. [Read more 🡒]
Jaylen Mbakwes Return Just Changed Georgia Techs Clemson Week Mood
Jaylen Mbakwe was back in front of the media this week, and the Georgia Tech cornerback had plenty to say after working his way back from the serious injury he suffered against Tennessee. The return alone changes the mood around the Yellow Jackets as they turn toward Clemson, with Mbakwe sounding grateful just to be back on the field and ready to talk football again. He also took a clear-eyed look at the Tigers, pointing out key players Georgia Tech will have to account for in a matchup that already carries plenty of weight.
Mbakwe also touched on the recent changes within the coaching staff, offering a glimpse of a program still adjusting even as it prepares for one of its biggest games of the season. On the field, he said his background as a former high school quarterback helps him read offenses from the defensive side, a trait that can matter a lot against a Clemson attack. For Georgia Tech, having a veteran voice like that back in the mix is a useful reminder that the week is about more than just the opponent. [Read more 🡒]
