Coming into Saturday’s game against Tennessee, the Gamecocks were already banged up. They leave Tennessee with the injury report growing longer and longer.

Running back Rico Dowdle has a fractured fibula and will miss and extended period of time, head coach Will Muschamp said after the game. Dowdle injured it in the first quarter on a run and returned to the sideline after being evaluated on crutches.

It’s the same injury Deebo Samuel and K.C. Crosby suffered this season.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” Muschamp said. “I’ve never been around anything like this before.”

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Dowdle is the team’s second-leading rusher with 206 yards and has scored two touchdowns this year. He left Saturday’s game with 19 yards and averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

Usually it takes roughly six weeks for a broken fibula to heal, and the players still have to rehab and get fully healthy. Deebo Samuel was injured against Kentucky and still hasn’t been cleared to play.

“I just say to keep your heads up,” Bryan Edwards said about the injuries. “It’s so tough, especially with the same injury. It keeps happening to us. It’s just a bad luck type thing. But you can’t dwell on it. You got to keep going.”

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South Carolina also had three offensive line starters not play despite two traveling with the team.

Cory Helms and Zack Bailey were game-time decisions. Helms didn’t dress but Muschamp said Bailey could have been used in an emergency situation. Bailey had been out since Sept. 16 against Kentucky and hasn’t played the last four weeks.

Malik Young (ankle) and wide receiver Terry Googer (head) did not travel with the team. Wide out Chad Terrell left the game with a sprained ankle but Muschamp said he’s hoping it’ll be healed by the team’s next game Oct. 28 against Vanderbilt.

“He’ll definitely be up for our next ball game,” Muschamp said of Bailey. “Cory Helms will definitely be back for our next ball game. Malik Young we feel like should be back for our next ball game; Terry Googer should be back for our next ball game.”

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South Carolina’s wounds have some time to heal with 14 days separating Saturday’s 15-9 win over the Vols and the Gamecocks’ (5-2, 3-2 SEC) next game.

Muschamp said he’s giving his players Sunday and Monday off before practicing three days and giving the team Friday and Saturday to rest as well.

This gives players like Bailey, Helms and Young a chance to relax and see if they can get healthy enough to play against the Commodores.

“We’re a beat up football team," Muschamp said. "The open week is coming at the right time.”