Kirby Smart updates the progress of injured Georgia TE Lawson Luckie

Georgia has been without true freshman tight end Lawson Luckie since an ankle injury in camp. And based on how head coach Kirby Smart discussed the injury on the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday, it doesn’t seem Luckie is expected back any time soon.

Smart alluded to the “tightrope” surgical procedure that Luckie underwent in late August, adding that the tight end is into rehabbing. But he’s still a ways off from contributing this season, with Smart declining to provide a timetable.

“He’s working his butt off and fighting to get back out there. Don’t have a timetable for when that would be. He ends up having that tightrope surgery. I know he’s dry-land running and is moving around, but he’s still got a way to go,” Smart said.

It was an unfortunate loss, Smart said, because coming out of the spring, Luckie was looking like an early enrollee who could see the field early on offense.

Smart shared that the coaching staff was hoping he’d be a depth piece and feature heavily when Georgia rolled out multiple tight ends. All of that has now been put on ice.

“Well he provides depth. He came in in the spring, had a good spring practice and felt very comfortable he was going to be able to help us this year in terms of both 12 and 11 personnel. And then when we lost him there in the scrimmage, it hurt us some from a depth standpoint,” Smart said.

Luckie isn’t the only injury Smart and Georgia are dealing with

The Bulldogs have been without star receiver Ladd McConkey in their first two games of the 2023 season. But as the conference portion of their schedule draws nearer, some fans are antsy about McConkey’s status going forward.

With SEC play set to start in Week 3, Smart took some time to discuss his star receiver’s rehab process and the impact his absence has on the offense.

“Well, we have guys that have similar skill sets; they don’t have the experience,” said Smart. “I mean, we got guys capable of appealing the void left by Ladd, but we don’t have guys with the experience in this offense — two years, 15 games a year, 30 games experience. It’s just immense. So that’s the part we miss.”

“As far as his ability, he hasn’t been available. He’s been injured, and he’s trying to come back. And we’re trying to figure out all we can do to speed that process up.”