Georgia defender suffers injury during scrimmage, updates on other banged up Bulldogs

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia just wrapped up its first scrimmage of the fall, but a couple of Bulldogs did not participate or were limited in some capacity. Here’s the injury update from head coach Kirby Smart who spoke with reporters after the fact:

We’ll begin with freshman linebacker Raylen Wilson. The five-star out of Tallahassee, Fla. suffered a hyperextended knee in the scrimmage, but according to Smart was able to walk off of the field under his own power. That was the most significant injury of the scrimmage by a long shot.

“As of right now, I would reserve judgement until we know for sure, but the ligaments are intact and hopefully he’ll be fine. It was a scary play but he seems to be fine,” Smart said. “He walked off the field on his own, and Ron feels good about it. You never know. You’ve got to do your due diligence. Coming out of it, I think we had a couple of guys get ankles, but I don’t know that we had a significant injury other than Raylen’s. I don’t know how long it’s going to be, but we don’t think it’s ligament damage.”

Georgia was without cornerback Kamari Lassiter and running back Kendall Milton as well. Both were working separate from their respective position groups on Tuesday, the last time media got to see periods of practice, and continued to do so on Saturday.

Per Smart, Milton (hamstring) has not been able to go and is “trying to get back best he can” while Lassiter (foot sprain) is “much closer.” Same goes for defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, also dealing with a foot injury.

One player who worked alongside Lassiter and Milton but was back in action on Saturday was wide receiver Rara Thomas. A transfer from Mississippi State, Thomas led those Bulldogs in receiving last year.

“Rara did everything today. He was good,” Smart said. “He had a hamstring spasm, not a pull. The practice you were at, he practiced, he just didn’t start with his position. He’s practiced each day, hasn’t missed a day, but he’s been held out of portions.”

Other Injury Notes

Speaking of stat leaders, last year’s team-leader in tackles, linebacker Smael Mondon, is not quite at full speed either as he also deals with a foot injury. Mondon suffered his in spring, around the same time as running back Branson Robinson.

Smart said at SEC Media Days that neither would be full speed for the start of fall camp, but after Robinson returned the field for drill work with the running backs this week, Smart shared the latest on both he and Mondon.

“Yeah, Branson goes in individuals. That’s what you’re seeing in the assumption he’s back, but he is not cleared to go yet,” Smart said. “He’s on track to get back earlier than we originally thought, but he’s not back yet. But he does do individual because that’s great exercise for him. That’s reps. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. But no, he did not scrimmage.”

“Smael’s been great, man,” he continued. “He works really hard every day. When you’re dealing with that kind of injury, it’s a very sensitive injury. It’s one of those deals that we have to be patient with. We knew that when we found out about it in the spring, the very end of spring. We knew the minute that he had it, it was a long-term deal that he was going to be fighting. He’s fighting similar to what Dan Jackson had and also fighting what Xavian Sorey came in with as a freshman. Luckily we caught it early and we were able to start. The worst thing would have been having to not catch it and then figure it out in fall camp. He’s doing really well, he’s running on the side. He’s on progress.”

The eighth-year head coach made mention of defensive back Dan Jackson having battled a hamstring injury early in fall camp. Jackson, who suffered a foot injury that ended his 2022 campaign in October, was able to scrimmage today, but “couldn’t go as much as he’d like to.” Offensive lineman Austin Blaske and defensive back Julian Humphrey have battled various sicknesses and have had their reps limited at times.

Finally, freshman cornerback Chris Peal is battling turf toe. He was seen in pads but with a boot on his right foot during Tuesday’s viewing period, working on the bike instead of with Georgia’s other injured players who were running off to the side.