The Georgia Bulldogs are in their one bye week of the 2026 college football season. Georgia (6-1, 4-1 SEC) enters the bye week banged up, especially at running back. However, arguably Georgia's most important injured player is KJ Bolden, who missed the Auburn loss. Bolden was in a boot on the sidelines during the defeat.
Bolden was a preseason All-SEC pick and a preseason All-American. He's a leader of the Georgia defense and has 22 tackles, one interception and three pass deflections this season.
Georgia coach Kirby Smart provided an injury update during his weekly press conference. The next opportunity for Bolden to return is Saturday, Oct. 31 against the Florida Gators.
"He was not dealing with anything before the Alabama game," Smart said. "He actually cramped around halftime, on the touchdown score right before the half. Then had an injury that came up towards the end around the sack which he never had to go back in because we ended up keeping the ball during that time.
"In terms of him coming back, he's hopeful. We're hopeful to get him back. I don't know what. I'm going to have to see. He's just got to recover and go through the doctor's protocol."
Bolden is a big piece of the Georgia secondary. The Bulldogs had an opportunity to make a play on the ball during Auburn's first touchdown, which was off a backfield pass from an Auburn wide receiver. Instead, Auburn hauled in a momentum-changing touchdown to cut Georgia's lead to 14-7.
If Bolden is unable to play, then Georgia is expected to play ECU transfer Ja'Marley Riddle, who had six tackles in Georgia's loss to Auburn.
This article originally appeared on UGA Wire: Georgia football provides injury update on All-American DB