Kirby Smart Updates Georgia's Injury Situation Ahead of Conference Opener

Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart updated the team's injury situation ahead of the conference opener against South Carolina.

Georgia has jumped out to a 2-0 start to the 2023 season despite a rash of injuries that have contributed to myriad important contributors missing time. Of course, the level of competition has certainly had something to do with Georgia's perfect start to the season, but the competition is poised to ramp up as the Bulldogs are set to host South Carolina in each team's respective conference opener. With the Gamecocks coming to town, Head Coach Kirby Smart updated the team's injury situation as the Bulldogs hope to see the return of several key players.

Ladd McConkey, the team's leading returning wide receiver, has missed each of the Bulldogs' first two games with lingering back soreness, and despite the team's best efforts to get him ready to play this wee, according to Smart, McConkey's status for Georgia's SEC opener is still uncertain.

“Ladd, day by day. We're trying everything we can to get him back," Smart said. "He's trying everything he can to get him back. I don't really know how to answer other than I don't know any more than I knew Saturday."

Georgia WR Ladd McConkey has been held of out each of Georgia's first two games of the 2023 season. Georgia hopes to get its leading returning WR back for its conference opener against South Carolina

Like McConkey, Daijun Edwards, the team's leading returning rusher from 2022, is another player who was expected to be a key contributor for Georgia this season, but has been held out of the team's first two contests against UT-Martin and Ball State. However, to hear Smart tell it, the outlook for Edwards' potential return against South Carolina is far brighter than that of McConkey.

“Yeah, we expect Daijun to go. Like I said, he could have gone last week, the week before that. We're just trying to go from 80 to 90 to 100. We think he's going to be closer to that. I can't say what he's at. But he certainly felt good enough to go Saturday. So I think -- having him back helps tremendously.”

In addition to the injuries that the Bulldogs were already nursing coming into last week's game against Ball State, several other players left that game with new injuries of their own, including preseason All-SEC safety Javon Bullard who left in the first quarter with what Smart described after the game as an ankle sprain. On Monday, Smart stopped short of ruling Bullard out for Saturday's tilt with South Carolina, but indicated that his availability in Georgia's conference opener will depend on how he progresses throughout the week.

“I have not seen Javon yet because of the Sunday being off. And then today coming in, he will not practice today. I do know that," Smart said. But as far as where he is, probably won't know until Wednesday's practice whether he's going to be able to go or not. We've had guys in that position with that similar injury being able to play. But I really have no clue until we approach the week.”

Defensive tackle Christian Miller who has impressed thus far in his redshirt freshman season also left the Ball State game in the second half with an apparent injury, but Smart expressed confidence that the Ellenwood, Georgia native would be cleared to play against South Carolina, saying, “I think it was a cervical strain. He's fine. He should be ready to go.”

After leaving the Ball State game late in the second half with an injury, Georgia Head Coach Kirby Smart expects defensive tackle Christian Miller to be able to suit up against South Carolina on Saturday

Previously, in his post-game press conference following Saturday's victory over Ball State, Smart also addressed the future availability of tackle Austin Blaske who missed the game against the Cardinals.

“He’s dealing with a MCL that occurred in practice,” Smart said. “Hopefully we’ll get him back. It might be next week or the following week.”

Georgia has also had a number of players who have been playing at less than 100% through the first two weeks including running backs Kendall Milton and Andrew Paul who are recovering from hamstring and ACL injuries respectively, tight end Brock Bowers, and linebacker Smael Mondon who started at ILB against Ball State after playing a reduced role in the season opener against UT-Martin.