Jammed finger is no issue for Cox

ATHENS, Ga. -- After Joe Cox made headlines the past two weeks for an illness and an injury that never amounted to missed playing time, Bulldogs coach Mark Richt thought about sending his quarterback to Tuesday's news conference wearing an eye patch.

Richt decided against the stunt, but Cox did show up with his left middle finger wrapped. Cox jammed the finger on his nonthrowing hand early in the fourth quarter of Saturday night's 41-37 win over South Carolina.

"That's from chasing (Gamecocks linebacker) Eric Norwood and tackling him 6 yards into the end zone," Cox said. "I guess that's what I get for throwing a pick six."

Cox got the finger checked out and is fine. He completed 17 of 24 passes for 201 yards and two touchdowns, with his two aerial scores being the first by a Bulldogs quarterback against the Gamecocks since David Greene in 2004.

Seeing yellow again

Georgia led the Southeastern Conference in penalties (112) and yards penalized (938) last season, and the Bulldogs are off to a solid start in repeating that dubious title. They have been penalized 20 times for 166 yards through two games, including 13 flags for 108 yards against South Carolina.

"Some games get wild, and that game got wild," Richt said. "They had a bunch of penalties. We had a bunch of penalties. I would say this in all sincerity: If you've got to choose between a team playing the way we played with the amount of energy and fire and enthusiasm for really a whole game, and the byproduct of that is some penalties, I'll take that over a team that doesn't ever have a penalty or a pulse to go with it."

Mississippi State is the only SEC team so far to be worse in that department, committing 22 penalties for 241 yards.

No head-hunter here

Reshad Jones has drawn a personal-foul penalty in each of the first two games, but Richt said he's happy with the energy level of his junior strong safety.

"On the sideline play just recently, I think he was just trying to tackle the guy," Richt said. "He was running full speed, reaching out and grabbing what you can. Going back to the play at Oklahoma State, I think he did everything right. He did not leap at the guy. He did not hit with his helmet. He struck with his shoulder and arm. His aim point was his chest, and the player ducked down into it, and that's where the contact was made.

"I don't want to say anything to Reshad other than to keep playing hard to make sure everything is below the neck when you're making contact."

Odds and ends

Junior tackle Josh Davis, who has undergone surgeries on each shoulder since last season, has been cleared to play and could provide relief Saturday night on either side. ... Junior strong safety Quintin Banks (knee) was cleared last week but didn't play and is not expected to play against Arkansas. ... Senior strongside linebacker Darius Dewberry (groin) is out again this week. ... Backup tailback Caleb King (hamstring) practiced Tuesday, but offensive coordinator Mike Bobo was unsure if he would play Saturday. ... Senior Marcus Washington was back at linebacker Tuesday after beginning the season at defensive end. ... ESPNU televising next week's home game against Arizona State marks the first time Georgia will play three straight regular-season night games since 1994 (when they beat Kentucky, lost to Florida and tied Auburn). ... Next week also will be Georgia's first appearance on ESPNU. ... Cox on trying to keep in touch with predecessor Matthew Stafford: "I was going to call him Sunday, but then I woke up and realized he plays on Sundays."