Georgia set to be without All-SEC wide receiver Ladd McConkey against South Carolina

Georgia is set to be without its top wide receiver for a third straight game.

Bulldogs preseason first-team All-SEC wide receiver Ladd McConkey is set to miss Georgia’s SEC opener against South Carolina on Saturday, sources tell On3.

McConkey has yet to play this season due to a back injury. Last year, McConkey posted 58 catches for 762 yards last season, tied with tight end Brock Bowers for the team-lead with seven touchdown catches and was a second-team All-SEC selection.

“We’re trying everything we can to get him back,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said earlier this week. “He’s trying everything he can to get back.”

With McConkey out, Dillon Bell and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint were the Bulldogs’ two starting receivers last week against Ball State. Bell, Arian Smith and Mekhi Mews started at receiver during Georgia’s season-opening victory over UT Martin.

Mews and Mississippi State transfer Rara Thomas rank first and second on the Bulldogs with 102 and 90 receiving yards, respectively. Missouri transfer Dominic Lovett leads Georgia with seven catches.

“We have guys that have similar skill sets. We just don’t have the experience,” Smart said. “We have guys capable of filling 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 of experience is immense. That’s the part we miss. … He’s trying to come back, and we’re trying to figure out all we can do to speed that process up.”

The back injury has been an unfortunate setback for McConkey, who has gone from being a diamond in the rough recruit to entering the season as an early-round prospect for next year’s NFL draft. The 6-foot, 185-pound McConkey finished last season with six touchdowns in the Bulldogs’ final eight games.

He had five catches for 88 yards and two TDs in Georgia’s win over TCU in the national championship game.

“He’s little, but he’s more explosive than some of these traditional slot receivers that are quicker than fast,” an NFL scout told On3 during the offseason. “He’s quick but also fast and explosive. Love his body control. And he shows up every time you watch him.”

Georgia enters the matchup against South Carolina on Saturday as a 27-point favorite.