Kirby Smart provides update on Branson Robinson injury
Georgia coach Kirby Smart offered an injury update on running back Branson Robinson during his Tuesday press conference. Robinson was declared out for the season after suffering a ruptured patellar tendon in August.
Smart revealed that the running back has recently returned to doing some light workouts and appears to be making progress in getting back to full speed. However, he’s still a long way away from making a return to practice or the field as Georgia prepares to play Vanderbilt on Saturday.
“He is getting closer to dry land running, weightbearing running,” Smart said. “But doubtful for this game. He is closer. I mean, he’s out there running around, but he’s not practicing with us.”
Georgia began the year with not only Robinson sidelined, but also leading returning rusher Daijun Edwards. Kendall Milton suffered an injury in Week 3 against South Carolina, which resulted in second-year receiver Dillon Bell receiving seven carries for 23 yards and a touchdown.
Milton and Edwards have both returned since, but true freshman Roderick Robinson has missed the past three games due to an ankle injury. Bell has continued to receive a handful of carries in the three games since, and Smart sees the Bulldogs continuing to use him both in the passing game and ground game going forward.
“It’s just a matter of where we are at back,” the coach explained. “We do have Kendall back and he seems much more healthy. And Daijun back. Dillon gives us a lot of versatility to do other things. He’s gotten better in his protections. Picking things up, IDing things. Understanding jet protection, understanding slide protection.
“We want to continue to grow his arsenal of plays and continue to use him as a wideout. That’s probably not gonna stop regardless of who’s there.”
Bell currently ranks third on the team with 109 yards rushing and a pair of touchdowns on 20 carries this season. He also has 10 catches for 85 yards.
Edwards leads the Bulldogs with 314 yards and five touchdowns despite missing the first two games of the year. He took on a lead back role after Milton went down with injury in the South Carolina game, and continued to do so as Milton missed the next two games.
However, the pair split carries fairly evenly in last week’s 51-13 victory against Kentucky, though that could have had something to do with the fact it was a blowout. The Bulldogs kick off against Vanderbilt at noon ET on Saturday.