Shane Beamer gives injury update on offensive linemen headed into Jacksonville State

South Carolina finally has some good injury news for once.

Coach Shane Beamer said Thursday that offensive linemen Cason Henry (hasn’t played since he started in the opener against North Carolina) and Vershon Lee (hasn’t played in two weeks) will play against Jacksonville State on Saturday at Williams-Brice Stadium.

”That’ll help us a lot,” Beamer said on his weekly call-in show. “It will help the depth in that room because we won’t have to have all five guys every snap basically. ... And certainly any time you can get two talented guys back, it helps.

“They not necessarily one-hundred percent. They’re both coming off injuries. But they continue to get healthier and better and that’s going to do nothing but help our offense run the ball and help from a protection standpoint also.”

While the Gamecocks will gain two offensive linemen, they will be without eft guard Trai Jones, who left the Texas A&M last week with an injury.

And with Jones’ absence, South Carolina is now guaranteed to have a brand new starting five on the offensive line. Through nine games, the Gamecocks will have had nine-different starting offensive-line combinations.

“We’re nine for nine on offensive-line combinations,” Beamer said, half-jokingly.

But there was more good news.

Beamer said that offensive linemen Tree Babalade and Trovon Baugh, both of whom have recently dealt with injuries, are “good” to play against Jax State.

Also cleared to play, Beamer said, is wide receiver Ahmarean Brown, who missed the Texas A&M contest. Tight end Trey Knox, who left last week’s game with a hamstring injury is questionable.

“Still a chance that Trey plays,” Beamer said. “But, certainly, (we’re) getting guys back and getting healthier — knock on wood — than any point this season.”