ATHENS — Georgia receiver Marlon Brown’s ability to play against the team he grew up rooting for is in doubt.

Brown injured his shoulder in Monday’s full-pad practice and did not participate in practice a day later. Receivers coach Tony Ball said Brown sprained his AC joint and did not know if the sophomore would be ready for Saturday’s game against Tennessee.

Earlier in the day, before his injury was known, Brown talked about playing against the Volunteers, whom he grew up pulling for in his native Memphis. Brown said he faced “huge pressure” to pick Tennessee.

“From Facebook, from people in school, from people in the grocery store, from fast-food restaurants,” he said. “It was crazy when I was being recruited, people telling (me) to come to Tennessee.”

Brown caught his first career touchdown pass last week at Colorado. The short pass play came a few plays after another Brown touchdown pass was negated by an offsides penalty on fellow receiver A.J. Green.

“He came off saying it was cramps,” Brown said. “I was like, No, you were offsides.”

Green ready for home debut

Green will be playing his first game this year at Sanford Stadium, having been suspended the first four games by the NCAA for selling his jersey to an agent.

Many assume this will be Green’s final year playing in Athens, and the junior will take his talents to the NFL. Green was asked if the suspension would affect his decision.

“I don’t know yet. But I do feel like I owe some of the fans some more stuff, just missing those four games. So I don’t know,” Green said. “Like I said, I’m gonna sit down with my family whenever the time comes and make the best decision for me.”

Point spread talk

Head coach Mark Richt was surprised to be told Georgia was favored by 13 points over Tennessee. (In fact the official line is closer to 11.) The Bulldogs are 1-4, while the Volunteers are 2-3.

“We’re a 13-point favorite? Wow,” Richt said, smiling. “I hope they’re right. Are you kidding. But I don’t look at those things.”

Receiver Tavarres King said it was an indication that the Bulldogs still have some respect around the nation.

“We showed what we could do against Arkansas, fighting back against them,” King said. “I don’t think anybody doesn’t think we’re a good team. I think everybody knows we’re still Georgia. We’ve still got that G on our helmet, and we’re still Georgia.”

This and that

Four teams were represented at Tuesday’s practice. New York Giants general manager Jerry Reese attended, along with scouts from San Diego, Indianapolis and Houston. … Richt said the redshirt could be taken off more true freshmen, without specifying any. Defensive end Garrison Smith played for the first time at Colorado.

He said it

“Do I get hung up on it? Well I wouldn’t say I get hung up on it. I mean obviously we’re gonna look to stop them, but to say I get hung up on it no. We’re gonna come out and play the next series.”

— Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, on the Bulldogs allowing an opening-drive touchdown in four straight games