College Football

Georgia tailback Sony Michel expected to miss 6-8 weeks

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:04 a.m. ET

foxsports

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Georgia tailback Sony Michel had surgery this week for a broken left forearm and it's unclear if he'll be ready for the Sept. 3 opener against North Carolina.

He was injured while riding an all-terrain vehicle and is expected to be out six to eight weeks.

Michel led the team with 1,161 yards rushing and eight touchdowns as a sophomore last year. He became the starter after a season-ending knee injury to Nick Chubb in the sixth game.

New Georgia coach Kirby Smart said at a charity golf event Thursday that Michel ''realizes that he's going to be healthy'' and ''he'll be 100 percent again.''

Chubb has yet to be cleared to practice. If neither he nor Michel is ready for the opener, senior Brendan Douglas could start. Douglas has 715 yards rushing in 36 career games.