Okay, you can officially start getting nervous now.

They’ve gone from counting on Tray Matthews starting against Clemson to this.

Richt also sounded guardedly optimistic, while cautioning that the missed practice time could affect his playing time.

“We hope he’s healthy enough to play. We think there’ll be a good chance of that,” Richt said. “But how much practice time to that, I don’t know how much he will get. So it’ll be hard to say what his role is gonna be.”

I know there are times when Richt tries to play it cute – gosh, I wonder who will be handling kicking duties in the opener? – but this doesn’t strike me as one of them.  Matthews hasn’t fully participated in practices in a while and time is getting short.  Hoping seems appropriate.

So I’m hoping the front seven is ready to pick up some of the slack.  Otherwise, Murray, Gurley and company better not miss, because the Dawgs will need every drop of offensive production they can get.

***********************************************************************

UPDATE:  Chip Towers lays on the pessimism thickly.

Secondary is huge concern. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, secondary coach Scott Lakatos and Richt have generally downplayed the injury and youth situation in the defensive backfield. Don’t be fooled. This is a huge deal and a major liability heading into the Clemson game. Tray Matthews’ hamstring and shoulder injuries in preseason camp were a major setback, as was, of course, Josh Harvey-Clemons getting suspended. Equally as disconcerting was strong safety Corey Moore going down with a knee injury. I don’t see him playing at all against Clemson, at this point. So at this juncture, your starting safeties are former walkon Connor Norman and true freshman Quincy Mauger. Meanwhile, neither Matthews nor Moore competed in a single full-speed scrimmage since practices began Aug. 1. So even if they do play against the Tigers, imagine the shock to the system it’s going to be to be asked contain Sammy Watkins and Martavis Bryant and the like with Tajh Boyd at the controls. Barring more injuries, Georgia’s OK at the corners with Damian Swann and Sheldon Dawson. But it could be a long day in Death Valley for the defensive backs.

Gonna be interesting, that’s for sure.