Chauncey Bowens will miss Saturday’s game against No. 6 Alabama after being injured last week. The Chauncey Bowens injury news comes after he got hurt during the No. 2 Bulldogs’ 38-14 win over Vanderbilt last week, and it leaves Georgia without its leading touchdown scorer out of the backfield for a marquee SEC matchup.
Bowens has scored six rushing touchdowns through five games this season, running 35 times for 124 yards while serving as Georgia’s primary short-yardage and goal-line back. Coach Kirby Smart has praised Bowens’ physical running style, calling him “a violent runner” who “seeks contact.”
What The Team And Sources Said About Bowens
ESPN reported Bowens was ruled out for the Alabama game without detailing the specific injury. No timeline for his return has been given. Georgia’s coaching staff has not publicly addressed when he might be back in the lineup.
Nate Frazier came off Georgia’s injury report Wednesday after missing most of the past two games with bruised ribs.
Who Replaces Bowens In The Backfield
Dwight Phillips Jr. has already shown he can carry a heavier workload in Frazier’s absence. The junior was Georgia’s leading rusher against Oklahoma, with 84 yards and a touchdown, and followed that with five catches for 75 yards and a receiving touchdown plus 27 rushing yards against Vanderbilt. He is averaging 8.0 yards per carry this season, per Sports Illustrated.
Bo Walker is expected to be among Georgia’s primary ball carriers against Alabama, according to Sports Illustrated. Kentucky transfer Dante Dowdell remains unavailable as well. He has missed the entire season recovering from injuries suffered in an ATV accident near his home in Picayune, Mississippi, and Georgia coach Kirby Smart told ESPN in July that Dowdell was being treated at Atlanta’s Shepherd Center, which specializes in treatment for spinal cord and brain injuries.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton could also see a bigger role in the ground game. Sports Illustrated reported that offensive coordinator Mike Bobo may lean on Stockton more with Bowens out. Stockton rushed for 97 yards on seven carries against Arkansas in September, and he ran for 39 yards on 13 carries against Alabama a year ago during Georgia’s 28-7 win over the Tide.
Smart has praised Stockton’s running style, saying, “I think he’s a violent runner. He likes contact. He seeks contact.”
Season Context For Georgia’s Running Backs
Frazier leads Georgia with 211 rushing yards and five touchdowns this season despite the missed time. He averaged 8.1 yards per carry, and his availability gives Georgia more depth in the backfield against an Alabama run defense that allows just 78.6 yards per game, third-best in the SEC.s leading rusher this season with 211 yards and five touchdowns despite missing significant time. He did not play in Georgia’s 41-13 win over Oklahoma on Sept. 26 and managed just two carries for 9 yards in the second half against Vanderbilt. He is averaging 8.1 yards per carry on the season, per Sports Illustrated, essentially matching Phillips’ output in a smaller sample.
Whether Frazier is fully cleared to handle a full workload against Alabama or remains limited by the rib injury has not been specified. His return to the injury report’s clear list is a positive sign for a Georgia offense that will need its ground game to hold up against a stout Alabama defense.
What’s Next For Georgia
Georgia plays at No. 6 Alabama on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.s defense ranks third in the SEC against the run, allowing just 78.6 yards per game, which will test whatever combination of Phillips, Walker, Frazier and Stockton the Bulldogs deploy in Bowens’ absence. Georgia will look to build on its recent form following wins over Vanderbilt and Oklahoma, with no official word yet on when Bowens might return to the lineup.
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