Sophomore linebacker Chase Linton has not played yet this season. No one knew he was hurt heading into Georgia's season opener game, but after not playing Kirby Smart said that he had a lower leg injury.
That injury kept him out of Georgia's first four games this season, but on Friday he was upgraded from questionable to probable on the Bulldogs' final injury report. This doesn't guarantee that he will play, but the expectation is that he will see the field for the first time this season against Vanderbilt.
Georgia sophomore OLB Chase Linton has been upgraded to probable ahead of tomorrow’s game against Vanderbilt
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) October 3, 2026
Linton garnered a lot of positive buzz from sources before being injured late in Georgia’s fall camp. He could add a new third down speed rush threat to the UGA defense pic.twitter.com/8kFnQr9xRi
Georgia needs Chase Linton to play, but they may not need Nate Frazier
Georgia could play without any one player and still be expected to comfortably beat Vanderbilt. That's why it might make sense for Georgia to rest anyone who is slightly injured that way they are fully healthy next week when their schedule ramps up.
This thought process doesn't apply to Linton though. He hasn't played yet this season, so he could use one game to help get his strength and conditioning back up before Georgia's schedule gets far more difficult next week.
Nate Frazier on the other hand has been questionable to play on Georgia's injury report all this week just like he was last week. He ultimately didn't play against Oklahoma last week and it might not be wise to play him this week so Georgia doesn't risk further injury against a team they should be able to beat even without him.
Georgia needs Frazier next week when they travel to Alabama, but they don't really need him this week at home against Vanderbilt. The same thought process could be said about Linton as well, but since he hasn't played yet this year he would benefit from playing against Vanderbilt while Frazier wouldn't benefit that much at all.
Vanderbilt quarterback Jared Curtis is expected to play
Another name on the injury report Georgia has been watching closely is Vanderbilt's starting quarterback Jared Curtis. He has been questionable to play all week as well, but a third party report on Friday indicated that he will attempt to play.
This doesn't guarantee that he will play, but Georgia should expect him to take the field at the start of this game. This would be significant because Curtis is one of the most talented quarterbacks in the SEC this season, so him playing would mean Georgia's odds to win would drop. They however would still be favored by over three touchdowns, so Curtis playing shouldn't impact if Georgia wins or not.
Instead of hoping he doesn't play though Georgia should hope Curtis does take the field. He would challenge Georgia's defense in ways they haven't been challenged yet this season, and with big games against Alabama, Florida and Ole Miss looming it wouldn't hurt to face an elite quarterback like Curtis before playing teams who could realistically beat them.
Fans will eventually find out if Linton, Frazier or Curtis will play on Saturday, but regardless of who plays Georgia is expected to comfortably beat Vanderbilt.
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