KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Georgia was without two of its top offensive players for over half of the game against Tennessee on Saturday. Georgia right guard Tate Ratledge left the game with 1:09 to go in the opening quarter with an apparent knee injury. Ratledge headed to the locker room in the second quarter with tears in his eyes and did not return for the second half.
Dylan Fairchild stepped in at right guard in Ratledge’s absence with Micah Morris playing left guard. Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas also sustained a foot injury during the first half. Thomas went to the locker room just before the first half ended and ultimately did not return to the game.
Following the win, Kirby Smart provided an update on Ratledge and Thomas. Smart said Ratledge “banged knees” with someone and tried to get back in the game, but they decided to hold him out. X-rays were negative. Smart said Thomas was bothered by a foot injury during warmups and held out. His x-rays also came back negative. Smart said wide receiver Ladd McConkey had an ankle injury come up during practice and he was held out after playing three snaps on Saturday.
“Tate banged knees, so we felt he might be able to get back in there. He tried to go, but couldn’t, there’s no X-ray, no damage, so he tells me he’s going to be able to play this week. We’ll see,” Smart said. “RaRa’s foot was bothering him. The X-rays were negative, it wasn’t an ankle sprain, it bothered him in warmups. Maybe a foot sprain, which is what Kamari has been dealing with. We don’t really know, but the X-rays are negative, so that’s really good news. But it’s not an ankle.”
Thomas had started the last eight games for Georgia, with 23 catches for 383 yards and a touchdown. He had an 18-yard reception in the game before the injury.
Ratledge has started all 11 games at right guard this season. He was the unquestioned starter right guard in 2021 before going down with a season-ending Lisfranc injury in the very first drive…
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