Moreno ‘not a guarantee’ against Tennessee
Knowshon Moreno may not play against Tennessee.
The high-flying Heisman hopeful tailback bruised his elbow against Alabama and is questionable for the Oct. 11 date with the Volunteers.
“He’s got a pretty good contusion on the elbow,” head coach Mark Richt said in his Sunday teleconference. “He’s already beginning to get some good movement back. … He’s got a chance to play in this next game, it’s not a guarantee though.”
Moreno was held to 34 yards against the Tide, his lowest total since being named the starter at tailback against Vanderbilt last season.
“I would just say I’m not sure if he’ll play or not,” Richt said. “[Director of Sports Medicine] Ron [Courson] thinks there’s a very good possibility he will play. All I’m saying is Ron isn’t sure, but he’s feeling that there is a good chance.”
The rest of Saturday’s long list of injured players:
Quarterback Matthew Stafford: “He had no concussion. We didn’t think he had a concussion during the game but his head was pounding pretty good. He had a good headache,” Richt said. “Ron wanted to be sure on everything so he pulled him out of the interview stuff, but he’s fine.”
Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe: “It seems like Ellerbe has an outside shot at playing this next game from what I remember,” Richt said. Ellerbe left Saturday’s game with a knee injury, and was sporting a full knee brace. “He would still be questionable for the Tennessee game but not out of the question.”
Wide receiver Kris Durham: “His ankle is a fairly significant sprain,” Richt said. “He will miss a while, but I don’t know how long a while is. I would say he’s questionable for the Tennessee game, that’s probably about as far as we can project on that one.”
Tight end Tripp Chandler also left Saturday’s game with a shoulder injury and will likely be out for a while, and second-string tight end Bruce Figgins will likely have season-ending surgery on a separated shoulder he suffered against Arizona State.
“Tripp will probably not play in the next ball game, and maybe not in the next couple, I’m not sure,” Richt said. “I just don’t know if it’s practical or if there’s really much of a chance [Figgins] will be ready to play in the Tennessee game. I’m pretty sure he’ll have surgery in the next two or three weeks and apply for a medical redshirt.”
With two tight ends out, that leaves only redshirt freshman Aron White at the position. But Richt said offensive lineman Kiante Tripp has been taking reps at tight end and was actually dressed out in No. 83 Saturday.
“Kiante more than likely will continue to work at the tight end spot, quite possibly for the rest of the year if we don’t get Bruce back and depending on how long it is before Tripp [Chandler] gets back going.”
Richt also said that with Brannan Southerland “back for sure” as a full-time fullback against Tennessee, some backup fullbacks might take reps at tight end.


