George Pickens travels, Georgia-Auburn injury updates

George Pickens is back, at least in some capacity. The Bulldogs’ star wide receiver is on the trip to Auburn today and was seen on the sideline ahead of the top-20 matchup.

Kirby Smart’s comments less than three weeks ago pointed to the recovery trending in the correct direction:

“(George Pickens) is rehabbing every day. He’s lifting every day. Going to school and doing all his school work and he’s done a good job of doing that. So we’ll see. We don’t know. It’s one of those … he gets kind of a monthly update,” Smart said. “We haven’t had an update in quite awhile. I think he’s scheduled to go see Doctor (James) Andrews here soon to check up and visit. But he’s doing his rehab and he’s working hard and he’s straight-line running but I have no idea of a date of return. That’s just too far out right now.” 

Pickens tore his ACL during Georgia’s spring practice in March.

*** UPDATE: Pickens did not go through warm ups and upon our count on the beat, would not be a part of the 70 man travel roster.

JT Daniels

While Pickens’ return to the travel roster is a great sign, it’s not all good news for the Bulldogs.

Georgia looks to be without quarterback JT Daniels for a second straight week, with Stetson Bennett expected to get the start.

Daniels is dealing with what’s been deemed a grade-one lat strain.

Kirby Smart touched on his status earlier this week.

“As there is in everything in the medical field, there’s these people that think they can fix it really fast. But that’s not necessarily the case,” Smart said. “I know that wasn’t the case with (Dak Prescott). Dak’s was much more extreme than what JT is going through. We did some more scans on JT’s just to confirm what we thought it was and what we’ve thought it was all along because we did scans even after Vanderbilt. So it is what it is and I think it’s going to be a time thing. It’s really, No. 1 pain tolerance, No. 2 can you get it to heal so it’s not a nagging, reoccurring, long-term injury. It’s unfortunate because it’s a tough injury.”

*** UPDATE: Kirby Smart told the CBS broadcast crew that he expects Stetson Bennett to start, but also noted that Daniels is available if needed.

Injuries outside of Pickens, Daniels

The injury bug has bitten Georgia outside of Daniels and Pickens throughout this season.

“Tykee (Smith), no, he was not in the same boat (as Darnell Washington). He was not able to go as much as (Washington),” Smart said. “You’ve got to be able to practice to be able to play. One thing we don’t do here is when you don’t practice, you can’t play. Tykee was at practice and he tried to go in practice but it’s tougher on him with the movements he has to have. He’s reacting to movement as opposed to going in a direction, so it’s different for him. He’ll be the first to tell you that he’s not 100 percent but he’ll also be the first to tell you that he’s trying his hardest to get back and pushing through. So we’ll continue to work with him to be able to do that and hopefully, he’ll be able to go.”

Georgia’s also dealing with a depleted group of wide receivers. Smart said that six or seven scholarship receivers are healthy right now. That’s because Dominick Blaylock, Arian Smith and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint continue to deal with injuries.

“As far as those other guys, we’re hopeful,” Smart said. “Dom’s has been a hamstring. It’s been a nagging hamstring. He’s going to warm up, loosen up today early and then hopefully be able to get some reps but whether he’s 100 percent or not, I don’t know. Arian, the same way and then Marcus Rosemy the same way. They’re all three much closer this week than they were last week but none of them are for definite in.”

*** UPDATE: Marcus Rosmey-Jacksaint made the trip, one of eight wide receivers in uniform. Tykee Smith also made the trip and went through warm ups. Their participation remains to be seen. No Blaylock or Arian Smith though.

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