The Georgia Bulldogs have been gradually regaining their health throughout the 2024 season, though a few key players remain sidelined. Coach Kirby Smart provided updates on their conditions during a post-practice press conference on Tuesday night.
Smart reported that defensive tackle Christen Miller has been practicing this week, while center Jared Wilson has increased his practice participation compared to last week, although he hasn’t yet taken on a full workload. Additionally, defensive tackle Jordan Hall is working hard to return to practice but still has some challenges ahead.
“Jordan’s really pushing himself to get back out there,” Smart said. “It’s tough to see him frustrated after having rods placed in both legs. He’s made progress compared to last week, but I can’t say he’s ready to play this week.”
Miller exited Saturday’s game with a left knee injury. Smart initially believed Miller would be fine, although he noted that the player had ice on his knee. So far this season, Miller has recorded 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and one sack.
Wilson suffered a foot injury in the second half of Georgia’s Week 5 loss to Alabama and was only available for emergency use against Auburn, ultimately not playing in that game. Drew Bobo filled in for him during that matchup. Wilson had started in the first four games of the season.
Hall has yet to make his season debut in his sophomore year.
“Jordan is making progress and working diligently,” Smart commented on Wednesday. “He participates in individual drills and takes reps, but he’s still managing some pain and is trying to find a comfortable level of tolerance. The situation is quite unique since he’s had issues in both legs, which complicates things.”
Previously, Smart explained Hall’s situation in detail.
“Jordan was recovering from a stress fracture in his tibia, but now he’s dealing with a similar issue in the other leg,” Smart said on August 13. “It was unusual for both legs to have the same problem, and he didn’t realize it until he began running to recover from the first injury. We had to address the second one as well.”
Hall was seen as a significant addition in Georgia’s 2023 signing class, aiming to make an impact on the defensive line. The 6-foot-4, 320-pound defensive tackle participated in 10 games as a true freshman last season, finishing with 10 tackles. His most notable performance came against Tennessee, where he recorded four tackles in the Bulldogs’ 38-10 victory.
Georgia’s upcoming game against Mississippi State is scheduled to kick off at 4:15 p.m. and will be broadcast on the SEC Network.
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