With quarterback Justin Thomas, center Freddie Burden, A-back J.J. Green and offensive tackle Andrew Marshall all back after missing Saturday’s game with injuries, Georgia Tech is in far better shape from a health standpoint than it has been in recent weeks.
“Probably, it’s the healthiest we’ve been in a while for this season,” coach Paul Johnson said following the team’s Wednesday practice.
Thomas and Burden missed the Yellow Jackets’ 30-20 upset of Virginia Tech with upper-body injuries after playing the previous week against North Carolina. Marshall sat out with a lower-body injury. Green has missed the past two games with a right-leg injury suffered against Duke.
Tech has had fairly good fortune with injuries this season, particularly compared with last season, when no fewer than five players expected to contribute suffered season-ending injuries either in the spring, preseason or regular season. This season, the 22 starters in the season opener have missed a combined 12 games because of injury, and are all still available to play. Perhaps the most impactful health situation was offensive tackle Chris Griffin being placed on medical scholarship during the preseason as he tried to return from an ACL tear.
