Georgia updates status of tackle Earnest Greene for Alabama game
By Luke Greco
Published:
No. 5 Georgia will host No. 17 Alabama this weekend and will look to get its second SEC win and remain undefeated. They will have to do so without offensive lineman Earnest Greene III, who has been ruled out for this weekend’s contest.
The Bulldogs’ starting right tackle was downgraded to officially out on the Bulldogs’ Thursday availability report. He had been listed as doubtful on the initial report on Wednesday night.
Greene has been dealing with a back injury this year, the same injury that required Greene to get surgery and kept him out the entire 2022 season. Greene left Georgia’s Week 1 game with the injury and sat out the following week. He tried to return for Week 3 but left the game at halftime and did not return.
Greene is not the only offensive lineman who will be out for Georgia’s game against Alabama. Redshirt freshman Malachi Toliver has also been ruled out of this week’s contest and is still working his way back from an ankle injury.
Wide receiver Thomas Blackshear has also been ruled out for this week. Blackshear was declared out for the Tennessee game as well. He made his debut earlier this year against Marshall. He hauled in a single reception for 14 yards in Georgia’s 45-7 victory.
The final player ruled out for Georgia is tight end Ethan Barbour. Barbour suffered a left leg injury in the final moments of the first half in Georgia’s game against Austin Peay. Georgia head coach Kirby Smart confirmed he has a significant ankle injury.
Without Greene, Georgia could start either Michael Uini or Bo Hughley. Uini started the Week 2 game that Greene missed, and he was the lineman who initially came off the bench to replace Greene against Tennessee. Hughley replaced Uini in the fourth quarter of that game, however.
Kickoff against the Tide is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night. Georgia is a 3-point favorite, per DraftKings.
