No. 12 Georgia will be without one of its top offensive weapons for Saturday’s matchup against No. 7 Tennessee. Running back Trevor Etienne was listed as out with a rib injury on SEC injury report after being listed as questionable all week.
Etienne, who transferred to Georgia after two seasons at Florida, is the Bulldogs’ leading rusher with 477 yards and seven touchdowns, with an additional 140 receiving yards on 23 receptions. He suffered the rib injury in a 34-20 Week 10 win over the Gators. Etienne attempted to play in last week’s 28-10 loss to Ole Miss, but only played six snaps.
Georgia’s running back depth was already thin and Etienne’s injury only exacerbates the situation. Freshman Nate Frazier is the team’s second-leading rusher with 333 yards and three touchdowns on 75 carries. However, fellow freshmen Dwight Phillips Jr. and Chauncey Bowens have seven touches between them this season.
Branson Robinson has missed three games with a knee injury, junior Cash Jones is listed as questionable on this week’s injury report and Roderick Robinson II has not played this season due to a turf toe.
As a result, Georgia ranks next to last among SEC teams in rushing with 1,117 total yards and yards per game (124.1), and 10th in the conference with 3.35 yards per carry. The lack of a consistent running game has affected the performance of quarterback Carson Beck, who has thrown 12 interceptions this season, double his number last year.
At 5-2 in the SEC (7-2 overall), a loss would likely knock Georgia out of the College Football Playoff picture. Tennessee could arguably afford an 8-1, 5-1 loss.
Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is listed as questionable while reportedly in concussion protocol for the week.