Report: Darnell Washington, Tykee Smith expected to miss 3-4 weeks with injuries

Two key Georgia Bulldog contributors are expected to miss significant time, according to a report from Josh Pate: sophomore tight end Darnell Washington and junior defensive back Tykee Smith will each miss 3-4 weeks, he said.

Both players are battling foot injuries sustained in practice yesterday. A separate report from DawgNation said that Washington is in a walking boot with a foot injury, while Smith’s injury is a sprained ankle.

It is unlikely that either player is available in the Bulldogs’ season opener against Clemson on Sept. 4, per Pate’s report.

Washington was slated to be a key contributor to Georgia’s offense in 2021, despite the fact that he only tallied seven catches for 166 yards as a freshman. He showed major signs of growth down the stretch of the season, as the 6-foot-7 tight end made his presence known by reeling in five of those catches for 107 of those yards in the final two games alone.

The Las Vegas, Nevada native was labeled a five-star prospect and started seven games for the Bulldogs. Perhaps more importantly, the 265-pound tight end is a versatile athlete who serves as a capable run blocker for the Bulldogs. In his absence, Georgia will have to lean on support from other tight ends such as John FitzPatrick, a 6-foot-7, 250-pound junior, and Brock Bowers, a true freshman with a four-star ranking.

Smith, on the other hand, a defensive back transfer from West Vriginia, was projected to provide key depth in the Bulldogs’ secondary. He was named a freshman All-American in 2019, then followed it up with another impressive sophomore campaign, good for the All-America second team. The Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native had not yet made his Bulldog debut but figured to play a significant role in his junior season.

Last season, Smith was fourth among all West Virginia Mountaineers with 61 total tackles, eight tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Without Washington, much of the onus in Georgia’s secondary falls on fifth-year senior Latavious Brini, who figures to be the starter in the meantime.

Both Washington and Smith were projected starters, and their absences could be significant for the Bulldogs.

Following their Sept. 4 game with Clemson, they have one nonconference game, a Sept. 11 matchup with UAB, followed by SEC matchups with South Carolina on Sept. 18, Georgia on Sept. 25 and Arkansas on Oct. 2. If the timeline provided in the report proves accurate, they should be fit to return for either the UAB or South Carolina game.