With regard to injured football players, there is a line for coaches — some would say it is fine and some would not — between pushing and pulling.

There is some pushing and pulling going on at Georgia Tech.

When the same guys keep showing up in red — no contact — jerseys, with nothing known to be broken or torn, well, there may be feelings of confliction.

Sophomore Correy Earls has missed more than a week with a hamstring injury, and junior A-back (and former wide receiver) Greg Smith has missed much of the past week with a hip injury. Both began the summer as starters, or at least sharing reps with the No. 1 offense.

Smith practiced for a while Monday morning, and then walked over to, "The Beach," where injured players work out with strength and conditioning coach (official title: director of player development) Eric Ciano.

Smith's position coach, Jeff Monken, did not appear pleased. When the team broke for water, Monken went near — but not all the way to — The Beach, and in so many (loud) words told Smith that he needs to practice.

Head coach Paul Johnson was more delicate, if just a little.

"If you're hurt, you're hurt; you can't help it," he said. "But we'll find out. I play the guys who practice."

Smith, who led the Jackets with 37 receptions last season as a wide receiver (No. 3 receiver James Johnson left the team in the spring, citing burnout), eventually put his gear back on, but did not return to the morning practice.

The old axiom that starters don't lose jobs by injury does not apply at Tech. The Yellow Jackets have a new coach, and as such there are no starters — yet.

"That's exactly right," Johnson said. "And if you're not out there practicing, you're certainly not going to get to play. That's not any indictment against kids that are hurt. But when you get hurt, you've got to fight your way back up the depth [chart].

"It's not fair to that guy who took every rep in practice for you to all of a sudden show up ... and him to get moved back down. I haven't seen anybody what that kind of ability yet."

Scout teams take field

The Jackets began preparing for their season-opening opponent, Jacksonville State. The offense and defense both ran against scout teams. "We're still playing each other, but a [five-minute] period here and there [dedicated to Jacksonville State] ... every day," Johnson said.

It may be a little early to set anything in stone, but quarterbacks Calvin Booker and Tevin Washington ran the scout team offense.

At A-back, freshman Marcus Wright worked with the scout team, Embry Peeples with the No. 1 (and No. 2) offense.

On the mend

On the injured list: offensive linemen A.J. Smith and Alex Paquette, Earls, Smith, freshmen defensive backs Rashaad Reid and Brandon Leslie, running back Quincy Kelly and defensive end Anthony Egbuniwe.

A.J. Smith and Kelly suffered concussions in Saturday's scrimmage, and Johnson said he hopes to have them back in practice Tuesday.

Roster questions remain

If there is a depth chart now, it is not available to everybody. But some things are becoming more apparent beyond the fact that the top three quarterbacks are Josh Nesbitt and freshmen Bryce Dykes and Jaybo Shaw (not necessarily in that order, although Nesbitt is No. 1).

The guard spots are not determined, but redshirt freshman Joseph Gilbert, senior Jason Hill, junior Cord Howard and presumably A.J. Smith are in the hunt. Sophomore Drew Brannon may be in the mix, too.

With A-back Andrew Smith coming back from a hamstring, and Greg Smith out, many of the No. 1 A-back reps were split between Roddy Jones, Jonathan Malone and Peeples.

More on depth chart

Redshirt freshman Nick Claytor is working at No. 2 left tackle (behind Andrew Gardner), and sophomore Luke Snider chiefly at No. 2 right tackle (behind David Brown).

Newly eligible Mario Edwards, the Virginia Tech transfer who got a green light from ACC officials last week to play this season, is working alongside Morgan Burnett as a No. 1 safety. Backups Monday morning were freshman Cooper Taylor and sophomore Dominique Reese. Reese continues to work as the nickel back.

Although freshman Jason Peters and Robert Hall have been the No. 2 defensive ends for the most part, defensive tackle Elris Anyaibe worked with the first unit for a while Monday morning when starter Derrick Morgan suffered a stinger.

Practice hit

Reserve outside linebacker Shane Bowen had the hit of the morning, forcing Peeples to fumble. Snider recovered ... The Jackets are to practice once Tuesday, at 3 p.m.