University of Georgia football kicked off another week of preseason practice with a 90-minute session Monday at the Woodruff Practice Fields in Athens.

Coach Mark Richt addressed the many injuries that have been spread around the team, saying that end Demarcus Dobbs (ankle), center Chris Burnette (concussion) and end Dexter Morant (shoulder) missed the practice and that receiver Logan Gray (ankle), center Ben Jones (knee) and guard Cordy Glenn (mono) “are getting close” to being back.

Linebacker Akeem Dent (toe) was able to log some non-contact work for the first time Monday.

“It was hotter today,” Richt said. “The guys had to push through it. Most of them did just that. We’re getting done what we need to get done. ... It’s good when it’s hot. It looks like it will be hot all week, and I’m glad about that. I hope it’s hot next week, too.”

Richt was asked if this felt like a bye week since the Bulldogs will be in game mode next week.

“Yeah, a long bye week,” he said. “It’s time to play a game. I’m glad we’re blending in some scout work. Everybody is ready to play. It’s been a long camp, but we’ve gotten a lot out of it.”

Tackle Clint Boling said the injuries to Jones and Glenn have meant valuable practice reps to several reserves. Boling said the depth should make a difference during Georgia’s first three games, all of which will kick off near high noon.

“They’ve all been playing well,” Boling said of the backups. “They’ve taken advantage of their opportunity to step in and get the job done. The good thing is, we’ve all been together for awhile, so we should be fine when everybody’s back. It’s going to be hot in the first couple of games, but it doesn’t matter when game time is; you’ve just got to be ready to play.”

Richt said the Bulldogs will practice again on Tuesday, then will have a practice game on Wednesday and a kicking practice on Thursday.

Georgia, which was ranked No. 21 in the preseason edition of the USA Today coaches poll and No. 23 in the Associated Press poll, will begin the 2010 campaign on Sept. 4, against Louisiana-Lafayette at Sanford Stadium. Kickoff for the opener against the Ragin’ Cajuns is set for 12:21 p.m., and the contest will be televised on the SEC Network nationwide.