Kirby Smart left without answers to Georgia injury question
We’re two days away from seeing Georgia and Alabama do battle in the 2023 SEC Championship Game, and Kirby Smart has spoken with reporters for the final time. On Thursday over Zoom, the Bulldogs’ head coach provided injury updates on a few key offensive players: Brock Bowers, Ladd McConkey, Tate Ratledge and Rara Thomas.
“I’m trying to figure that out myself. I don’t have a lot more answers than I had on Monday,” Smart said. “They have not been able to do a lot. Each on has kind of worked independently. Tate has done some drill work, some 11-on-11 stuff. Brock has sprinkled in some of that. The other guys have bene able to run and do somethings. We’re going to find out today what their availability is to be honest.”
The Bulldogs were without Bowers, McConkey, Ratledge and Thomas on the offensive side of the ball last Saturday in a win over Georgia Tech. Both Bowers and Ratledge were dressed out and went through warmups however while the two wide receivers were in street clothes. Smart said it has bothered him that people think their absence on Saturday had anything to do with the caliber of opponent.
“It’s tough. It bothers me that people have said that we sat these guys for the last game. That wasn’t the case at all. They couldn’t go,” Smart said. “I don’t know if they’re going to be able to go in this game. It’s just unfortunate to have those kind of injuries, especially four starters on offense.”
This isn’t the first time Smart has addressed injuries this week either. He previously spoke with reporters on Sunday and Monday, once over the phone and another time in person, and was asked about injuries on both occasions.
“As far as last night, Brock was probably the closest of being able to go of those guys. Just didn’t feel as good as he had. He was a little sore. We wanted to be able to use him situationally, see what he could do if he felt comfortable with it,” Smart said on Sunday during a teleconference to get championship week underway. “Just didn’t think he could go. Nothing about who we’re playing or anything else. He’s got to be able to go compete at the highest level and be able to feel good about what he’s doing. We didn’t feel that he had that last night.
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“Tate, he may have, could have played, but he wasn’t 100%. We’re hopeful to get him back,” he added. “As far as the other guys go, it’s going to be day to day. We just don’t know anything. We certainly don’t know anything more today because we haven’t done anything.”
Smart’s most recent updates on the defensive side of the ball have been vague to say the least. Linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson and defensive back Julian Humphrey both were injured for the Bulldogs down the stretch. Dumas-Johnson has missed the last three games while Humphrey’s been sidelined the last two.
“Yeah, still week-to-week with their injuries, trying to get both of those guys back,” Smart said on Monday.
Kickoff time for Saturday is set for 4:00 p.m. ET on CBS. As of publication, Georgia is considered to be anywhere from a 5.5 to a 6.5-point favorite according to VegasInsider.
GEORGIA INJURY REPORT
LB Smael Mondon (Undisclosed) – PROBABLE
WR Ladd McConkey (Ankle) – QUESTIONABLE
TE Brock Bowers (Ankle) – QUESTIONABLE
WR Rara Thomas (Foot) – QUESTIONABLE
OL Tate Ratledge (Knee) – QUESTIONABLE
DB Julian Humphrey (Upper Body) – DOUBTFUL
LB Jamon Dumas-Johnson (Forearm) – DOUBTFUL
OL Kelton Smith (Undisclosed) – DOUBTFUL
RB Branson Robinson (Knee) – OUT
