Kirby Smart updates injuries to Daijun Edwards, Kendall Milton

Georgia running back Branson Robinson was lost for the season last week. Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart revealed on Monday that other running backs are still dealing with injuries, too.

Daijun Edwards has been battling an MCL injury during the preseason, according to Smart. Edwards also had an MCL injury that he dealt with last season. Edwards isn’t 100 percent, but he’s making progress.

The hope is that he will be a full participant in Monday’s practice.

“Daijun was dealing with an MCL, and he had one last year. But he’s actually doing great. I think he’s going to be able to practice and do everything today,” Smart said. “So we feel good about Daijun’s status. It happened in the second scrimmage… would’ve been, I guess a week ago Saturday. And he’s bounced back pretty good from that. He looks good.

As for fellow Georgia running back Kendall Milton, he has been battling a hamstring injury for almost all of training camp. Smart estimated that he’s currently at 80-90 percent healthy.

Like Edwards, Milton will also try to practice fully on Monday.

“Kendall’s been dealing with a hamstring most of, almost all of, camp. He feels 80-90 percent. And we’re hopeful to get him back today as well,” Smart said. “The volume they do we have to be careful of, because they haven’t been in the heat as much as the other guys. But we feel good about both of those guys.”

Daijun Edwards is a senior who was second on the team in rushing last season with 797 yards and seven touchdowns. Kendall Milton is also a senior, who was third on the team with 592 yards in 2022.

With those two missing some time, younger Georgia running backs have been getting work during the preseason.

That includes redshirt freshman Andrew Paul and true freshman Rod Robinson.

“I feel good about Andrew Paul. Rod Robinson’s had a great camp. Cash [Jones] has had a good camp,” Smart said. “Really got a bunch of guys who have repped and done some good things there.”

Paul was injured last preseason and missed the entire year. Robinson was ranked as the No. 10 running back and No. 152 overall player in the country for the class of 2023, according to the On3 Industry rankings.

Smart is a big believer in the talent the Bulldogs have at running back. Now it’s just a matter of getting everyone healthy.

“We’re looking at everybody at running back. We’re going to try to find the best way possible to get the ball in the hands of the playmakers,” Smart said. “I feel good about the backs we have. I’ll feel a lot better if Daijun and Kendall are 100 percent. But we’ll see where they are today.”