Georgia injury update two weeks out from start of season

ATHENS, Ga. — For Kirby Smart, the completion of a second scrimmage marks the end of fall camp. The Bulldogs made the move from the Georgia Center back to their usual living quarters already. School is underway, and the season is quickly approaching with some teams starting in a week while Georgia kicks off with the majority of the country on September 2nd. That being the case, the next eight before game week will have more time for recovery. That sounds necessary based on the injury report provided on Saturday.

Among the most notable updates, linebacker Smael Mondon (foot) is back running. Continuing to navigate an injury that ended his spring months ago, Smart said last year’s leading tackler has been great in the way he’s approached rehab.

“Smael is running really fast. He’s exercising. He’s not practicing. He’ll be able to do some drill work Monday. He’s come along very well. He’s very passionate about getting back. He’s not sure. He’s running. The first test of that foot is how much soreness comes when he runs and he’s been great.“

The update for running back Kendall Milton (hamstring) is similar. He too is running but was not able to participate in the scrimmage on Saturday. Smart said he “thinks he’s really close,” but not quite there. As for Branson Robinson (foot) also in the running back room, he was an activate participant. Robinson was seen in a black non-contact jersey during media observation periods earlier this week, and according to Smart, has been “doing more each day in practice.”

“He basically scrimmaged today without carrying the ball. He was in on plays, did pass pro, ran routes, caught balls, he looks pretty good out there. But we have not tackled him live.”

Cornerback Kamari Lassiter (foot) was also seen in a black non-contact jersey on Tuesday, something Smart said he continued to wear on Saturday for the scrimmage. However, it was hard to really limit him because the nature of his injury is more so either being able to play or not.

“He took the volume of reps, he covered and played, but he’s not where he made a tackle. He’d tag off. But he felt very good. It’s been tender and sore after he practices, so it’s kind of been a day on and day off, day on and day off. So, we’re doing what the doctors say, we’re bringing him back slowly and listening to his body.”

Lassiter wasn’t the only defensive back Smart mentioned. Freshman STAR Joenel Aguero is battling a hamstring issue, a grade 1 one per Smart. Meanwhile, wide receiver Jackson Meeks joins the long list of foot injuries nagging the team with a fifth metatarsal stress reaction. Smart said they are hoping Meeks will be available for the opener in two weeks.

Other Injuries

– Smart mentioned that two expected starters on the offensive line – Earnest Greene and Xavier Truss – went down on the same play during the scrimmage. He didn’t details on Truss’ while saying that Greene’s was an ankle but did say that both returned later on.

“Earnest got a little banged up today. He went back in and played so I don’t know how serious it was. It was an ankle, so I don’t know if it was low ankle or high ankle. He felt like he was hurt, he came back in and played, played about 10 or 11 plays, then it bothered him and we shut him down. Truss got dinged up on the same play. Truss went out, Truss came back and played. Both those guys came back and played. I think they’re okay but I’ll know more tomorrow. Blaske played today. He was good. He’s been dealing with heat, things like that but he played.” 

– Redshirt freshman running back Andrew Paul is not quite at 100 percent in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in last year’s second scrimmage. According to Smart, he “looks better and better” and continues to gain confidence, both in his knee and the Georgia offensive system.

“Andrew Paul has been really good. I wouldn’t say he’s been 100 percent. He’s a post-ACL knee, and I guess he’s at a year. He looks better and better. He’s more and more confident in the system. He still makes some mistakes. Made a mistake today, and he’ll learn from it and grow from it. That’s why we practice. Hopefully he’ll be 100 percent by the time the first game gets here. The running back position has been a work in progress. We’re trying to get healthy guys, and they’re going to get to play behind a really good offensive line, some good tight ends and a quarterback that’s going to be able to help them. But we need to get production out of that position.”

– Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins and David Daniel-Sisavanh were both reportedly limited in their action during Saturday’s scrimmage. Both were seen at times on the stationary bike. Daniel-Sisavanh’s injury is undisclosed while Ingram-Dawkins has been dealing with a foot injury. He was back in action at practice on Tuesday with seemingly no limitations but could have been limited in the scrimmage for precautionary reasons.

– No update on freshmen defenders Raylen Wilson (knee) or Chris Peal (turf toe), but their classmate, tight end Lawson Luckie, did undergo surgery on his ankle for an injury suffered in last week’s scrimmage.