Georgia Tech may be short a starter or starters for its game Saturday against Duke.
“We’re not very healthy,” coach Paul Johnson said Wednesday in his final media availability of the week.
Asked later if there were players in the starting lineup that he anticipated not playing, Johnson replied, “Could be.”
Johnson declined an opportunity to name players on the grounds that it would not serve his team’s interests. Being short any starters would obviously be a detriment for the Jackets as they face Duke at home in a matchup critical for their hopes of winning the ACC Coastal championship.
At least two players left last Friday’s game against Louisville and did not return – wide receiver Jalen Camp (lower body) and right tackle Andrew Marshall (upper body). Cornerback Lamont Simmons (upper-body injury) missed the game, but Johnson said earlier in the week that he was back and able to play.
Johnson gave another hint to suggest that Marshall’s status is in the air. After identifying Marshall as part of the first-string line that he’s used when its members are healthy, Johnson said that Will Bryan is the No. 3 offensive tackle “if he doesn’t start.”
Bryan started against Alcorn State and South Florida but has not played much since suffering a lower-body injury against USF. He missed the Pittsburgh and Clemson games and was a backup against Bowling Green and Louisville.
If he were to start in Marshall’s spot at right tackle, it would be the third position that he has started in this season, along with left tackle and right guard.
The likely replacement for Camp would be Stephen Dolphus, who subbed in for Camp after his injury. Malachi Carter would be the No. 3 receiver, most likely. Johnson gave Carter a sizable compliment, saying he was as far into his development as any freshman wide receiver that he could remember.
“He’s just a good player,” Johnson said. “He’s a good receiver, he can catch the ball, he comes out of breaks, he’s not afraid to block. He’s just going to be a good player.”
