Athens — Georgia got hit with its first major injury of the preseason on Saturday when sophomore strong safety Quintin Banks went down with a knee injury.

Banks, who was the No. 2 strong safety and third man in the four-man safety rotation, suffered a torn medial collateral ligament during an inside drill in Saturday morning's full-contact practice, the first of the preseason. By the afternoon — it was the first two-practice day this year — Banks was on crutches with a big black brace covering his left knee.

"He will probably have surgery on Tuesday to repair the MCL," coach Mark Richt said. "It'll be about a six-week recovery."

Georgia also lost safety Makiri Pugh for at least a week. The true freshman from Charlotte had his left ankle heavily wrapped as he followed Banks to the training room from the field early in the afternoon practice.

Safety was one position the Bulldogs could least afford injuries. Earlier this week defensive coordinator Willie Martinez was talking about the importance of having at least four solid safeties and that he had only three, including Banks.

"We're looking for the fourth," Martinez said. "We'd like to have five safeties in the rotation and ready for that first ballgame. John Knox is the fourth guy right now. After that it's really kind of wide open."

Georgia would be in better shape if it still had junior Donavon Baldwin. But Baldwin is currently suspended indefinitely after an offseason DUI conviction and a bar fight two weeks ago. Baldwin received 25 stitches in his head and neck after getting hit with a beer bottle.

The Bulldogs can also turn to Andrew Williams, a former walk-on and sixth-year senior who was awarded a scholarship earlier this week. And Richt said true freshmen Bacarri Rambo and Nick Williams will "have to get ready to play."

Dogs mull series with TCU

Georgia has been approached by Texas Christian about a possible home-and-away series to be played some time between 2013-2015.

The proposal would have the teams play one year in Athens at Sanford Stadium and the other year in Arlington, Texas, in the new Dallas Cowboys' stadium, which is scheduled to be completed in 2011.

However, Georgia officials say they are "not close" to striking a deal with the Horned Frogs.

"They're one of several teams we've been talking to," said Arthur Johnson, UGA's associate athletics director for internal affairs and the person charged with arranging future football schedules. "I still have to sit down with Coach Richt and talk about the possibilities."

Asked if the TCU series was a realistic, Johnson said, "yes and no. We'd still like to have as many home games as possible."

In other words, Georgia would prefer to not have to return a game.

Johnson declined to discuss other scheduling scenarios. He said no scheduling efforts could be finalized until they receive the permanent SEC schedule for 2011 and beyond, which he believes will come out before the end of this year.

Georgia increasingly has scheduled home-and-away, non-conference series that take it out of the region. The Bulldogs play at Arizona State this season (Sept. 20) and will play at Oklahoma State in 2009, Colorado in 2010, Louisville in 2012, and Oregon in 2015. They'll also play at Clemson in 2013.

Battle continues behind Moreno

Running backs coach Tony Ball made it clear that the battle for No. 2 tailback is wide open and not just a motivational ploy for redshirt freshman Caleb King.

"We're in competition. Caleb knows that," Ball said. "We've got some talented kids at that position. Caleb needs to learn to challenge Knowshon. In doing so, the new guys will have to raise their games to a new level. That's how he's got to approach this thing. We are in competition right now and that spot is wide open."

King's main competition is true freshman Richard Samuel. Ball admitted there is "some separation" between the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Samuel and the two other freshman backs Georgia signed, Dontavious Jackson and Carlton Thomas.

Hit of the day

Speaking of King, he was the recipient of what might have been the best hit of the day during the first full-contact practice in full pads Saturday morning.

Linebacker Rennie Curran shot through a gap unblocked on a blitz and caught King unaware in the backfield running a zone play to the outside.

"He didn't see me coming," Curran said with a big grin. "I got him pretty good."

Etc.

Flanker Israel Troupe remains in a non-contact jersey but he returned to the practice field Saturday morning and did not appear slowed by right shoulder, arm and wrist injuries he suffered earlier this week. ... Defensive end Jarius Wynn (aggravated hernia) and linebacker Akeem Hebron (ankle) sat out with injuries but aren't expected to be sidelined long. ... Former Georgia and NFL star placekicker Kevin Butler was working with the Bulldogs' kickers during Saturday morning's practice. Butler's son Drew Butler is a redshirt freshman punter and placekicker. ... Georgia's No. 2 linebacker corps Saturday: Darryl Gamble, Akeem Hebron and Christian Robinson.