Georgia’s top returning receiver will miss the rest of spring practice. Malcolm Mitchell was scheduled to have knee surgery this morning.  He suffered an injury during last Saturday’s scrimmage and will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee. He’s expected to ready in August for preseason camp.

Despite playing cornerback early in the season last year, Mitchell had 40 catches for 572 yards and four touchdowns.  He missed the 2012 opener with a foot injury and three games in 2011 with a hamstring injury. He’s the second Georgia receiver to miss time this spring.  Michael Bennett is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last season.  He’s been running on the side in spring practice.

A month ago, Georgia lost receiver Michael Bennett to an ACL injury.  Luckily for the Dawgs, Malcolm Mitchell was able to move from his brief emergency role in the secondary back to UGA’s receiving corps.  Question is: Who’ll step up now that receiver Marlon Brown has also been lost for the year to an ACL injury?

Brown is a senior and the injury he suffered Saturday will bring his career to a close in Athens.  For those wondering, Bennett is a sophomore and will return next season.

Mark Richt said of the injury:

“It’s just a hard thing to swallow right now…

We still have some playmakers, but Marlon and Michael were just two outstanding football players.  I mean at the time of the injuries they were both leading the team in receptions and actually have a nice physicality to them, as well, at that position.”  You know, we’ll miss that.  Other guys will just have to step up and get after it.”

Bennett had 24 catches for 345 yards and four touchdowns when he went down.  Brown exits with 27 catches for 469 yards and four more TDs.  That’s a lot of production to have to replace.

Georgia won 37-10 over Ole Miss and has remaining games against Auburn, Georgia Southern and Georgia Tech remaining.  If they beat Auburn, they’ll wrap up the SEC East title and likely be treated to a date with Alabama in the SEC Championship Game.  Against the Tide’s defense, it’s best to have all your weapons loaded.  If UGA faces Bama… they won’t.

On Saturday, receiver Michael Bennett was hauling in five catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns in Georgia’s 51-44 win over Tennessee.  Yesterday he was helped off the Bulldogs’ practice field with a torn ACL in his right knee.

According to The Macon Telegraph, Bennett is now done for the season.  The redshirt sophomore leads Goergia with 24 catches for 345 yards and four touchdowns through five games.

Bennett announced via Twitter:

“God has a plan for me and everything happens for a reason.  Get ready for a historic season Dawg nation.  Our boys are gonna get it done!”

Expect Malcolm Mitchell — who just moved back to receiver from defensive back last week — to see his role expand with the loss of Bennett.  Bennett had basically picked up the slack while Mitchell served his stint on defense.

For the season, 12 different players have caught passes for the Dawgs: eight receivers, two tight ends and both freshman running backs.  If there’s a bright spot to this it’s that UGA is deep when it comes to pass-catchers.