Things happen. Georgia coach Kirby Smart understands that.

Over the holiday weekend, Bulldogs running Sony Michel — the team’s leading rusher from a year ago with over 1,100 yards — suffered a broken left forearm while participating in an all-terrain vehicle accident, which will sideline him when preseason practice begins in August.

Michel could be out for about 8-12 weeks. And though he probably feels terribly about the situation, Smart is keeping the blame off his shoulders. He was just being a college kid, after all.

“I think you always want kids to be careful, but kids are going to be kids,” Smart told The Telegraph while at the Georgia Celebrity Golf Classic. “I was a player once. I went and did things, rode on jet skis, rode on things. Accidents are going to happen. You hate it. It’s unfortunate. We’ve moved past it now. We know he’s going to be 100 percent.”

Michel underwent successful surgery on Monday. It’s uncertain whether he’ll be available for the Week 1 regular season opener on Sept. 3, meaning both he and co-star running back Nick Chubb — who suffered a significant knee injury last year — could be sidelined for the first snap.

That means third-string back Brendan Douglas will likely end up as the team’s No. 1 option once camp begins.

“Tough injury. Tough for a kid who’s worked so hard to be in the best shape of his life,” Smart said. “It’s part of the game. It’s part of things that happen. Kids have mistakes and things happen. It’s very unfortunate for him but he’s in good spirits now. He realizes he’s going to be healthy again. He’ll be 100 percent again.”