Georgia football: Kirby Smart offers insight on injury recovery

Heading into the bye week, the No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs are looking to get healthy. With time to reflect and recover, head coach Kirby Smart went in-depth on the injury recovery process, and what goes into the coach’s final call.

“It really just boils down to practice,” Smart explained during his Tuesday press conference. “The guys who go out in practice and take the reps and perform on the practice field are the guys who go out in the game. You don’t ever just plug a guy in, you plug a guy in during the week and you give him reps.”

Despite early dominance, Georgia has dealt with several injuries and other absences. Without wide receivers Georgie Pickens, Arik Gilbert or Dominick Blaylock, the passing game has relied on several inexperienced players to make an immediate impact.

“Those guys that are injured are trying their best, they’re in rehab each day,” said Smart. “They’re working to get back and we’re focused on getting the guys we have healthy, better. I want to have more depth at that position, and that’s all kind of contingent on those guys returning from injury.”

To compound Georgia’s wide receiver problem, Kirby Smart has been forced to switch between quarterbacks on several occasions early this season. With starter JT Daniels on the mend, backup Stetson Bennett remains ready for action when called upon.

“Whoever gives us the best opportunity to win is who’s out on the field, and that comes from practice,” said Smart. “If you can’t practice, then obviously that’s hard to do. If you can practice and you’re not 100 percent, and you’re working your way back, then we’re going to play whoever gives us the best opportunity to win.”

George Pickens injury update

Georgia coach Kirby Smart handed out updates on several injuries and the resulting recovery heading into the bye week. But none holds more impact than George Pickens. The junior wide receiver continues his recovery from ACL surgery this spring.

“Dr. Andrews, Ron Courson, myself, George’s parents have all been involved in that conversation,” Smart said Tuesday. “It’s not something we’re open to share. I’m just hopeful he’s able to get back to 100 percent, that’s our concern.”

Despite Smart’s reluctance to provide a timeline, fans are growing excited about the potential comeback story. With one month left, plus a potential run through the postseason, there are signs of hope.

“There’s a long-term plan there, but I don’t disclose timelines on that kind of stuff,” said Smart. Probably the week of the game we’ll know more but we did a walk-through yesterday and he was able to do that. He can get signals and get calls, he’s done a tremendous job working in recovery.”