Vanderbilt Week: Thursday News and Notes

ATHENS - News and notes from Georgia's practices.

Despite Georgia’s lack of depth on the defensive line, there are no plans to use redshirting freshmen Kade Weston or Rod Battle, defensive coordinator Willie Martinez said.

“We haven’t gone that route yet,” he said. “They’re practicing and in the back of your mind, you always have to prepare for an emergency situation.”

INJURY UPDATE: Wide receiver A.J. Bryant started running the team’s rehab pool this week but still remains doubtful for the Oct. 22 Arkansas game due to his pulled groin, Richt said Thursday.

Wide receiver Mario Raley (leg) is further along, Richt said, and could return for the Arkansas game.

Bryant, Raley, linebacker Tony Taylor (elbow) and defensive tackle Gerald Anderson (concussion) won’t make the trip with the Bulldogs to Nashville. Southeastern Conference teams are allowed to take only 70 players on conference road trips, so Georgia typically doesn’t take players who are injured are redshirting.

The Bulldogs made an exception last week when they took true freshman quarterback Joe Cox to the Tennessee game although there were no plans to play Cox.

“We said, ‘Let’s take Joe and let him get a taste of it,’” Richt said. “We just wanted him to see what it felt like to play in a real hostile environment.”

PRACTICE REPORT: Georgia held its final on-field practice for Saturday’s game on Thursday afternoon at Sanford Stadium. The Bulldog typically practice at Sanford the Thursday before road games so they can put crowd noise on the speaker system and simulate a hostile environment.

Before the workout, Richt spoke to his seniors about making sure the team doesn’t overlook the Commodores, he said.