Kearis Jackson’s long wait to be a part of Georgia’s offensive plans will last a while longer.
The redshirt freshman from Fort Valley had worked his way into those plans when started in the slot for the Bulldogs against Vanderbilt on Saturday. But X-rays on the hand he injured after making a 32-yard catch proved he had two fractures. He’s going to be in cast and out of action for several weeks.
“He’s got a couple of different breaks, and he’s going to be out for a little while,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart reported Monday. “He should be back in a club (cast) shortly, but we don’t know how long he’s going to be out. It could be three or four weeks.”
Injuries contributed to Jackson having to be redshirted last season. He showed promise in preseason camp as a freshman but was sidelined just before the start of the season with a pulled hamstring. He was never able to work his way back into the rotation, seeing action in four games and getting one carry for six yards against Middle Tennessee State. He was able to preserve his redshirt status via the NCAA’s new limited-participation rule.
Before he was injured Saturday, Jackson returned a punt six yards and caught one pass that resulted in no gain. On the play in which he was injured, Jackson beat his man down the left hash and broke an initial tackle before he was run down at the 5-yard line by Vandy’s Feleti Afemui, who hit Jackson’s hand and jarred the ball loose. The ball was scooped up by Deshaun Jenkins and returned 12 yards.
Tackle Isaiah Wilson also twisted an ankle in the game, but was able to come back later and should be available this week. Smart said the Bulldogs were “hopeful” that sophomore offensive lineman Jamaree Salyer would be able to return after sitting out last week with an ankle injury.
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