Kirby Smart shares latest on Ladd McConkey as Georgia WR deals with another injury
ATHENS, Ga. — Ladd McConkey was limited for Georgia on Saturday in the Bulldogs’ 38-10 win over Tennessee. The wide receiver played just six snaps, all of which came early, before spending the rest of his day on the sideline. After the fact, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart said it was because of an ankle injury that kept him out of practice in the lead up to the top-20 showdown. Come Monday, Smart provided further update on McConkey moving forward.
“Yeah, he’s got a tweaked ankle that he tweaked in the game here at home (Ole Miss). He was able to go a little bit at the end of the week but didn’t practice much. It bothered him a little bit Saturday, but nothing any more severe than that,” Smart said. “We’ve done MRI since the game and are doing even more testing. We feel good that he’s going to be able to return. Right before I came in here, Claude said there’s questions about tightrope surgery, but that’s not the case at all. I don’t know where that’s coming from.”
This isn’t the first time McConkey has dealt with an injury this season. The Chatsworth, Ga. native missed the first four games of the 2023 campaign as he was bothered by back spasms. However, he’s come back strong, finishing as Georgia’s leading receiver in three straight games before Saturday.
“I think it came at the right time, right? With Brock out, had Ladd step up and make plays. We’ve gotta keep him healthy because he’s such a weapon,” Smart said after McConkey tied a career-high in receiving yards with 135 and a touchdown on six catches against Florida, earning SEC Offensive Player of the Week. “He’s such a competitor. The yards after catch is what he gives us that a lot of other guys haven’t done. He catches it and runs with it, and he does a tremendous job.”
McConkey’s situation earlier in the season with back spasms was a frustrating one for all involved parties. However, as time went along, Georgia felt that it was able to find a routine that would keep him healthy. Of course, the ankle injury isn’t related to the back, rather a result of being rolled up on against Ole Miss, but it’s certainly another situation that’ll frustrate Smart, McConkey and company.
On the year, McConkey has 26 catches for 418 yards and two touchdowns. It comes on the heels of a redshirt sophomore season in 2022 that saw him finish second on the team both in catches (58) and yards (762) while tying with Brock Bowers for the team-high in receiving touchdowns with seven scores.
Speaking on Bowers, Georgia finally felt that it had a full cast of characters on offense with McConkey, Bowers and others all healthy. That resulted in an onslaught of Ole Miss, putting up 611 total yards and 52 points on the then-ninth-ranked Rebels. However, with McConkey banged up once again – along with fellow receiver Rara Thomas dealing with a foot sprain – that wish will be put on hold for the time being.
No. 1 Georgia (11-0, 8-0 SEC) makes the short trip to Atlanta this coming Saturday to take on in-state rival Georgia Tech (6-5, 5-3 ACC). Kickoff time from Bobby Dodd Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. The Bulldogs opened as 23-point favorites in the 117th edition of “Clean, Old-Fashioned Hate” according to oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook.
