Tate Ratledge injury update: Latest news on Georgia OL's availability for Alabama game (Week 5)

Georgia Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge will be out of the lineup for the pivotal Week 5 game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Ratledge suffered an ankle injury in the Bulldogs 13-12 win over Kentucky.

The guard underwent surgery on his sprained left ankle on September 16. He is expected to miss a handful of games, according to ESPN.

"He's had TightRope [surgery] already," Smart said. "He's in the rehab process. We checked it the night of the game and had to get it fixed. He'll be back as soon as he can. We expect a healthy and full recovery."

It is a big blow to the Bulldogs' offensive line, as Ratledge is the team's starting right guard and one of the top offensive linemen in the country. Ratledge was first-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

The guard is the No. 4 interior offensive line prospect eligible for the 2025 NFL draft, according to ESPN.

With Ratledge being out of the lineup, Daniel Calhoun is likely to take over.

Kirby Smart and Georgia focused on limiting explosive plays

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are going on the road to play the Alabama Crimson Tide on Saturday.

It is a pivotal game for the SEC and entering the game, Smart says limiting Alabama's explosive plays on offense is key to victory.

“Well, it’s extremely challenging against Bama because every play is a ticking time bomb," Smart said via Dawg Nation. "They’ve got explosive playmakers in backs, receivers, and then a quarterback that can extend a play from against one team might be a four-second play is now an eight-second play.

"When plays go from four to eight, I mean, one of the most explosive plays in all of pro football the last couple years has been scrambles," Smart continued.

"Well, there’s going to be scrambles. Like, we can’t say, ‘Well, they didn’t prepare for the scramble. There’s not a real preparation you can do for that. It’s going to happen," he added.

"It’s inevitable. It’s how you manage it, how well disciplined we play down the field with our eyes. There’s a lot of things that go into that. They are an explosive team. We have limited explosives, but when those two usually meet head to head, it can go both ways.”

If Georgia can limit the explosive plays and not let quarterback Jalen Milroe from scrambling, Smart is confident his team will leave Tuscaloosa with the win.

The Bulldogs are two-point favorites on the road against Alabama.