Injuries may be a part of football, but for a running offense like Georgia Southern’s, injuries can have quite an impact when so many are injured at one position.
Running teams need running backs, and as it stands, the position needs help heading into Saturday’s game against Chattanooga at Paulson Stadium.
“I don’t know if we have a healthy running back. Period. We don’t have one. Not one for the game right now,” GSU head coach Jeff Monken said after practice on Monday.
GSU fullbacks Dominique Swope and William Banks could play Saturday. Swope did not practice with contact Monday, while Banks, who is playing with an injured finger, took contact.
Fullbacks Irving Huggins and Nardo Govan, who spent the first three games recovering from preseason injuries, have been practicing, along with slotback Ezayi Youyoute. True freshmen Chris Jordan and Cam Lewis are also practicing through injuries.
The team’s starting quarterback Jerick McKinnon, who also played running back in a Sept. 14, 30-20 loss at Wofford, was sick and missed practice Monday.
All of the slotbacks are battling a variety of injuries, except Torrance Hunt, who is serving an indefinite suspension for undisclosed reasons.
 Johnathan Bryant, Tray Butler, Matt Brieda and Devin Scott practiced on Monday.
 “Some of (the injuries) were just freak things,” Monken said. “Matt Breida — we were running a punt drill, he came down and just ran into somebody, hurt his shoulder. He practiced (Monday) some. He’s limited, but he’s out there.”
    Monken is certain about one thing when it comes to GSU’s injuries.
    “We can’t forfeit,” he said. “We’re going to play.”