Georgia injury update: Kirby Smart shares on Ladd McConkey, Javon Bullard before SEC opener
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia is getting ready to welcome South Carolina to town, but the Bulldogs have been without a pair of key players for the most part this week. Wide receiver Ladd McConkey and defensive back Javon Bullard are both key contributors when on the field but enter the SEC opener banged up.
McConkey has missed the first two games of the season with a back injury. Last year’s second-leading pass catcher hauling in 58 passes for 762 yards and seven touchdowns, not having him in the lineup certainly has had an impact on the offense.
“We have guys that are capable but we don’t have guys with experience. His 30 games is immense,” Smart said of McConkey and what his absence has meant. “He hasn’t been available. He’s been injured. We’re trying to figure out what we can do to speed that up.”
As for Bullard, he suffered an ankle sprain on Saturday. Returning to the sideline in street clothes with a boot on his left foot, Smart told reporters this week that he would not practice on Monday but could potentially be available come Saturday. More would be known after Wednesday’s workout.
“Javon’s still unknown right now. He’s out there at practice but he’s not able to do a lot,” Smart said.
Bullard finished second on the team in tackles during their opener against UT-Martin. Last season he was fifth among all Bulldogs with 46 stops.
Other Georgia Injury Updates
McConkey and Bullard aren’t the only two contributors that are questionable. Georgia is likely to be without offensive lineman Austin Blaske as he battles an MCL sprain.
“Blaske’s working his way back. Might be available. He’s one of the toughest guys I’ve been around, so he’s trying to speed up that recovery and make him available for this game.”
Blaske battled with Earnest Greene for the starting spot at left tackle during the offseason. Greene has started the first two games, but Blaske rotated in for the one that he was available.
The Bulldogs are also hoping to have running back Daijun Edwards make his season debut after he too suffered an MCL sprain. Edwards came into the season expected to act as one of Georgia’s top options in the backfield having finished second to Kenny McIntosh last year in both carries and yards.
Kickoff time for Saturday between the Bulldogs and Gamecocks is set for 3:30 p.m. ET at Sanford Stadium, airing on CBS as the SEC Game of the Week. Georgia enters as 27.5-point favorites after winning last year’s matchup of the border rivals by the largest margin in series history.
