Tennessee Week - Monday News and Notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Georgia's practices.

Defensive tackle Gerald Anderson (concussion) and defensive end Charles Johnson (ankle) sat out Monday’s practice. They did participate in conditioning drills and are hoping to play Saturday against Tennessee.

“That’s what I’m shooting for,” Anderson said.

Running back Kregg Lumpkin (shoulder) and fullback Brannan Southerland (ribs) practiced in green, no-contact jerseys but were able to participate in some drills. The only Bulldog not expected to play Saturday is backup defensive end Jeremy Lomax (high ankle sprain).

Linebacker Jarvis Jackson practiced with his familiar large, club-like cast on his right hand, but that was the last day he will wear it. He will play Saturday in a cast which will allow him to move his fingers. That will make tackling and getting off blocks easier, he said. Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who has missed the last two games due to a sprained ankle, said he isn’t 100 percent but will play against the Vols.

The Volunteers also are banged up but are only expected to be without freshman running back Montario Hardesty, who tore his ACL last week. Quarterback Rick Clausen is slowed by shoulder, thigh and Achilles tendon injuries but will start. Wide receiver Robert Meachem is playing on a slightly sprained ankle.

MASSAQUOI TAKES CHARGE: Georgia’s No. 3 wide receiver position has rotated between A.J. Bryant, Kenneth Harris and T.J. Gartrell, but someone finally has made it his own, receivers coach John Eason said. That someone is true freshman Mohamed Massaquoi.

“He catchees the ball extremely well; he’s physical, and he has a tremendous desire to excel,” Eason said. “If he continues to improve like he has, I think he’ll have a firm hold on it, and then he’ll start competing for one of those other two spots.”

SIMS MAKING PROGRESS: Safety Antonio Sims, who missed the first four games of the year due to a broken leg, is currently sharing time with CJ Byrd at the No. 2 rover spot and could play this week, defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said. Byrd is playing with a large cast on his right hand due to hand injury but will be able to play, Martinez said.

WAITING ON TIME: CBS exercised one of its six-day options on Monday, meaning the time of the Oct. 15 Georgia-Vanderbilt game won’t be known until next Monday. CBS has a double-header on Oct. 15 and has already announced the Florida-LSU game will be played at 3:30. Either the Bulldogs-Commodores game or the Alabama-Ole Miss game will be shown in the 12:00 p.m. slot.