Georgia Tech will play without A-back J.J. Green for the second week in a row. The junior was ruled out of the Yellow Jackets’ game Saturday against Virginia Tech on the team’s injury report, released Thursday. Green injured his right leg returning a kickoff against Duke.
Three other key players were deemed questionable — quarterback Justin Thomas, offensive tackle Andrew Marshall and center Freddie Burden. Coach Paul Johnson has already said that he expects Thomas, who left the North Carolina game last Saturday with what appeared to be an injury around his jaw, to play against the Hokies. Burden also left the game against the Tar Heels with an upper-body injury.
Both Thomas and Burden have started every game since the start of the 2014 season, a run of 35 games.
On Tuesday, Marshall said he was “good to go” to play against Virginia Tech. He has started seven of the past eight games, five at right tackle and two at left tackle.
Green’s status could mean more kickoff returns for Nate Cottrell, who took Green’s place in that job against North Carolina, and a shorter rotation at A-back.
Tech for certain will be without B-back Dedrick Mills, who was suspended for the Virginia Tech and Virginia games for a violation of team rules. Wide receiver Christian Philpott, who has appeared in three games this season, also was ruled out with an upper-body injury.
