Chase Linton misses Georgia season opener with a lower leg injury

Georgia linebacker Chase Linton sat out the Bulldogs’ 63-3 season-opening victory against the Tennessee State Tigers on September 7, 2026. Coach Kirby Smart confirmed that the sidelined edge rusher is dealing with a lower leg injury. While the recovery timeline for Linton remains unclear, the Bulldogs have no requirement to issue an official injury report until their third game against Arkansas. In his absence, freshman PJ Dean led the defense with 1.5 sacks, while fellow freshman Khamari Brooks contributed three tackles. Smart emphasized that the younger players must continue to improve as they prepare for higher levels of competition within the SEC. Georgia’s defensive unit restricted Tennessee State throughout the contest, securing a win to start the season.

• 12:15 PMYahoo Sports — Why Georgia linebacker did not play in UGA's season opener