Kirby Smart provides update on health of Georgia linebackers

Coming off a 48-7 drubbing of UT Martin in the season opener, a pair of Georgia linebackers are inching closer to returning to full speed. Head coach Kirby Smart offered some updates on freshman Raylen Wilson and junior Smael Mondon.

Wilson, who is recovering from a hyperextended knee and Mondon, who is dealing with a foot injury, are both on the right track. It’s not certain when Wilson will be fully ready to go, but Mondon — who played in the opener — is even closer.

“Smael has been good. Like I said, I don’t know anything about how much he played the other day but in our mind, he was playing, he was playing sub situations. He’s played a few more snaps this week, kind of building him up. Trying to ramp him up slowly to a full game’s kind of quota of snaps. I don’t know how much that’ll be this week but he’s practiced well,” Smart said.

As for Wilson, it’s a little murkier.

However, Smart noted that he’s been able to keep up mentally while recovering from the knee injury, an impressive feat for a freshman.

“Raylen is back in a black shirt. He’s practiced the last two days. It’s so great to have him out there. I don’t think he’s 100%, but he’s coming off a hyperextended knee. So he’s wearing a little bit of a brace. There’s a little bit of a lumber there but he’s really a bright kid. He didn’t miss a lot, mentally,” Smart said. “He was able to stay in tune with what’s going on while he was not practicing, which is really hard for a freshman to do.”

With Ball State coming to Athens on Saturday, the Bulldogs have one more tune up before SEC competition starts with South Carolina coming to town on Sept. 16. It seems both Wilson and Mondon could be back by then as things currently stand.

Smart had updates on a few offensive players, too

On Tuesday, Smart provided an injury update on top receiver Ladd McConkey, as well as a handful of others. The Bulldogs are still battling a handful of injuries.

Georgia hopes to get some of those key players back soon, like receiver Daijun Edwards, who is battling a sprained MCL.

“Daijun’s looked good. He’s practiced and done well,” Smart said. “Not in a black shirt, he’s still got a knee brace.”

Also missing so far is McConkey, who was the team’s leading wide receiver a year ago.

“Ladd has not practiced with us,” Smart explained. “He’s running routes on air. He’s run, he’s cut, but he is not taking hits and doing like reps, whatever you call it, practice reps. He’s doing reps on air.”

McConkey was responsible for 58 catches for 762 yards and seven touchdowns last season, and he’d be a huge difference-maker for new starting quarterback Carson Beck if he was available.