Kirby Smart provides injury update on CJ Washington

One of the big pieces of Georgia’s No. 2-ranked recruiting class this year was CJ Washington. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs will have to wait a while to see him in action.

Washington suffered a neck injury in last week’s practice and is dealing with a concussion, Kirby Smart confirmed Thursday. He’s also in a brace — and Smart said he won’t take it off anytime soon.

“He’s going to be in a neck brace for a while,” Smart said, via DawgsHQ’s Palmer Thombs.

Smart also said Washington, who enrolled early, is lucky considering the situation. The hit was an inch away from his heart, Smart said.

Washington arrived in Athens as a four-star recruit from the Class of 2022 and was the No. 12 linebacker in the country, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He’ll miss the rest of spring ball due to the injury, Smart confirmed.

Washington is joining a Georgia defense that was the best in the nation last year and a big reason the Bulldogs were able to win their first national title in 40 years. Georgia held teams to 10.2 points per game — the best in the nation by more than four points per contest. In the national championship, the Bulldogs held Alabama to 18 points as they defeated the Crimson Tide 33-18 in Indianapolis.

Kirby Smart announces position change for former five-star recruit

Georgia head coach Kirby Smart announced that Arik Gilbert, who was first moved to wide receiver when he came to Athens last season, will be moving back to his original position of tight end.

Gilbert stepped away from the team in 2021 after dealing with what Smart labeled “personal issues” in August. He recently rejoined the team following its national championship campaign and should be a full participant for Georgia moving forward. Gilbert — who initially committed to LSU out of high school as a tight end — has since flirted with a position change to wide receiver. It appears as though he will remain a tight end, per Smart.

“He’s a tight end,” Smart said on Thursday. “That’s probably what he’s going to develop at.”

Gilbert in his freshman season at LSU amassed 35 receptions for 368 yards and two touchdowns, appearing largely as a tight end. He did, however, start at wide receiver for the Tigers against Alabama, a game in which he reeled in five receptions for 29 yards.