Georgia could be without a key defender for Saturday night’s showdown against No. 2 Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

Both Mike Griffith of Dawg Nation and Seth Emerson of The Athletic are reporting that Monty Rice is dealing with an injury and has been seen in a protective walking boot. Griffith’s Friday report noted Rice has missed practice with a lower leg injury. Emerson’s Saturday morning report detailed that it’s a foot injury for Rice who made the trip to Tuscaloosa and appears to be a pregame decision.

On Friday afternoon, Rice was named one of the Bulldogs’ 3 captains for the showdown with No. 2 Alabama. The senior linebacker was named the Chuck Bednarik Award Player of the Week for his performance in UGA’s Week 3 win over Tennessee.

Rice, a native of Huntsville, Alabama, led the Bulldogs in tackles for the second straight game and scored his first career touchdown during Georgia’s 44-21 rout of No. 14 Tennessee.  He tallied eight stops, including a pair of tackles for loss.  One of Rice’s TFL was a strip-sack that he recovered and returned 20 yards for the Bulldogs’ final touchdown.  Rice directed a defense that held the Vols to minus-1 yards rushing and without a point in the second half.