Georgia football fall camp injury, suspension report

The Georgia Bulldogs are pretty healthy entering the start of fall camp. Georgia is preparing for its season open on Sept. 5 against Tennessee State.

Entering fall camp, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart was excited about how healthy the Bulldogs are. Georgia still has some starters that are limited after missing the spring, but the Bulldogs don’t appear to have many recent injuries. Of course, that could all change over the course of fall camp.

“We’re in a really healthy state,” Smart said. “I feel like we’ve got a lot of guys that can practice.”

Georgia is most notably without Auburn transfer defensive lineman Amaris Williams after he suffered a torn ACL in the spring. Williams is not the only Georgia player recovering from an ACL injury. Freshman cornerback Justice Fitzpatrick also suffered an ACL injury in December.

Kentucky running back transfer Dante Dowdell is the only other Georgia player that is expected to miss extended time. Dowdell was involved in an offseason ATV accident.

“We’re he’s been kind of on a pitch count, so we’re starting him in fall camp in the same mode,” Smart said on Jones. “He’s been ramping up after of a resting period, and he’s been increasing as the summer goes. It’s not that he’s not 100% healthy, but he’s not taking 100% of a normal practice day’s reps.”

Georgia will be without Auburn defensive line transfer Amaris Williams for the 2026 season. Williams tore his ACL in spring practice and is rehabbing his injury. Williams was rated as a four-star transfer and had high expectations prior to his knee injury.

Georgia running back Dante Dowdell, a Kentucky transfer, had a strong spring, but it out for the foreseeable future. Dowdell is not with the team after having a serious ATV accident this offseason. Dowdell’s accident resulting in him being hospitalized.

“Dante (Dowdell)’s doing better,” Smart said. “He is not with us. We don’t have a timeline for him, and that’s going to happen. The most important thing for Dante is himself, and that he can do functions and do daily, in and out things, not really worried about football right now.”

Four-star signee Justice Fitzpatrick missed the spring after having an ACL injury in December during his high school season. Fitzpatrick has a shot to return this season, but needs to have some fortune with his rehab. Fitzpatrick needs time.
(foot/ankle): Limited

Georgia All-SEC first-team offensive lineman Drew Bobo has been limited. He missed the SEC championship, the College Football Playoff and spring practice after having a Lisfranc injury and a broken bone in his foot.

“I’ve been able to do everything during the summer,” Bobo said. “So I’m hoping to be able to be full go whenever the season starts.” Georgia won’t rush Bobo back.

Georgia defensive lineman Gabe Harris, an All-SEC pick, missed the Sugar Bowl with turf toe last season. He also missed the spring, but is healthy and is back out there with his practice load being managed.

“Gabe (Harris)’s been doing good,” Smart said. “He’s similar to Drew (Bobo). It was a very significant injury. Those two were the two biggest missing pieces for us towards the end of the year and made it really tough. But he’s out there doing everything now.”

• Safety Ja’Marley Riddle (surgery recovery)

• Defensive lineman Jordan Hall (knee)

• Defensive lineman Carter Luckie (knee surgery)

• Linebacker Zayden Walker (shoulder)

Safety Ja’Marley Riddle (surgery recovery)

Defensive lineman Jordan Hall (knee)

Defensive lineman Carter Luckie (knee surgery)

Linebacker Zayden Walker (shoulder)

As usual, Georgia has not announced any suspensions although the Bulldogs did have a few arrests this offseason. Georgia could suspend players that were arrested, but is unlikely to announce anything publicly. The Bulldogs open the season against Tennessee State and then Western Kentucky, so Georgia shouldn’t be hurt much even if players are suspended.

“I sort of always liked playing them that second game because you could always count on them having two or three key players suspended,” former South Carolina and Florida coach Steve Spurrier said about Georgia in a memorable quote. The Bulldogs’ first Power Four opponent is in Week 3 against Arkansas, so Georgia could also be more cautious with players that are nursing injuries in Week 1 and Week 2.

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This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia football fall camp injury, suspension report