Georgia vs. Auburn, Saturday, November 16, 2019
On Saturday versus Auburn, Bulldogs’ offensive lineman Cade Mays and Ben Cleveland were both dealing with injuries towards the end of the game. Backup Jamaree Salyer came in the game in the fourth quarter at right guard and filled in.
Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said at his Monday press conference that he believes both Mays and Cleveland should be able to play Saturday when the Bulldogs take on Texas A&M.
“Cade is banged up, and I don’t think he will be able to practice but he should hopefully be back out there Tuesday,” said Smart. “Ben is hurt battling a lower extremity. We’re hopeful he should be able to go as well.”
Mays is the Bulldogs’ most versatile offensive lineman as he has played all five positions on the line this season. He has also started in ten games this season, and he has started six games at his normal position of right guard. Mays has two starts at left guard, two at right tackle, and one at tight end. In the Missouri game, starting center Trey Hill went down and Mays filled in at his spot until getting hurt.
Whenever Mays leaves the right guard position, fourth-year junior Ben Cleveland fills in for him. Cleveland only has four starts this season but has played in every game. The rotation of these two helps keep legs fresh on the sideline, and with Mays’ versatility, it adds another challenging backing element for opponents’ defensive lines.
When both these are healthy Georgia has six guys that are capable of getting the job done, but if not, Salyer is another guy who offensive line coach Sam Pittman can rely on. Salyer made his first start of the season at right tackle in the home opener against Murray State. He has appeared in nine of ten games this season.
Smart also updated Lawrence Cager‘s status who only had one reception for six yards against Auburn on Saturday.
“(Lawrence) Cager is cleared to practice. It’ll just be a matter of whether he’s able to sustain,” said Smart.
Cager left the game against South Carolina early because of a rib and shoulders injury, and he did not play in Georgia’s 21-0 over Kentucky. He returned for the Florida game, and let Bulldog fans know so via Twitter using the popular WWE wrestler ‘The Undertaker’ gif that indicates a comeback.
In that game against Florida, Cager torched the Gators’ defense as he caught seven passes for 132 yards and a touchdown. Cager has an excellent first half against Missouri last week with six catches for 93 yards, but re-injured his shoulder and didn’t return to the game. With practice availability closed to the media on Monday, we weren’t able to see if he practiced or not.
Georgia takes on the Texas A&M Aggies this upcoming Saturday at 3:30 p.m. on CBS.