Georgia football loses running back to season ending injury
Georgia football's running back depth had been a question this preseason. Now it's thinned even more.
Coach Kirby Smart said Wednesday that running back Branson Robinson is out for the season after sustaining a noncontact ruptured patellar tendon in practice Tuesday.
"Tough, tough break for him," Smart said.
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The sophomore from Canton, Miss., rushed for 330 yards on 68 carries last season for a 4.9 yard average.
He had been battling a foot injury this preseason.
"He had a great summer and looked really good in the days leading up to this injury," Smart said.
The 5-foot-10, 220-pound Robinson scored two touchdowns in the 65-7 national championship route of TCU.
The injury occurred in a non-contact drill when he cut and planted, Smart said.
That, he said, puts Georgia in a "tough situation." at running back.
Georgia's top returning rusher is Daijun Edwards, who ran for 797 yards last season, but he also was not taking part in practice late Wednesday afternoon. Edwards was with a group of injured players working on the end of one field. He is dealing with an MCL sprain, according to DawgsCentral.
Senior Kendall Milton was there, too, in a black non-contact jersey. He has missed time this preseason with a hamstring injury and "still is not 100 percent," Smart said. Redshirt freshman Andrew Paul is a year removed from a torn ACL, but is getting "a ton of reps," Smart said. So is true freshman Roderick Robinson.
"We have capable backs," Smart said. "He was one of our better backs. When healthy last year, we felt like he was coming into his own. He was learning how to pass protect and he had a really good spring while he was going. So we were excited about where he was headed. He was explosive twitchy and can do some things in pass pro and running the ball that maybe some of the other guys couldn't do. We're not going to have that luxury."
Georgia may need to lean more on walk-on Cash Jones.
Smart said coaches will have to think about the roles of running backs on special teams due to depth concerns.
Smart also said left tackle Earnest Greene III took part in about half of Tuesday's practice after sustaining an ankle injury in Saturday's scrimmage.
"We think he's going to be OK," Smart said.
Freshman inside linebacker Raylen Wilson remains sidelined for the second week after having a knee hyperextended on Aug. 12, Smart said. Wide receiver DeNylon Morrissette has been bothered by a groin injury.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football RB Branson Robinson lost for season due to injury
