Kirby Smart provides injury updates trio of major Georgia offensive contributors
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — No. 1 Georgia rolled right over No. 18 Tennessee on Saturday by a score of 38-10 but the Bulldogs had a trio of major offensive contributors go down in the process. Wide receivers Ladd McConkey and Rara Thomas exited the game in the first half along with starting right guard Tate Ratledge.
After the game, Kirby Smart gave and update on all three players after the game. He says that McConkey is dealing with ankle injury sustained last week against Ole Miss. McConkey played on Georgia’s opening possession of the game but did not re-enter the game.
Thomas came off the field in the first half and went into the locker room with a foot injury. According to Smart, Thomas was dealing with the injury before today and X-rays were negative. Ratledge “banged knees” with a Tennessee player and tried to come back into the game but was unable. X-rays on Ratledge were also negative.
McConkey missed the first four games of the season with back tightness/spasms. He returned for the Bulldogs’ week-five win over Auburn but didn’t start to look like himself until after the bye week when he went off for six catches, 135 yards and a touchdown against Florida. Coming into this game McConkey had 26 grabs for 418 yards and two scores.
Thomas, who transferred to Georgia in January after spending his first two seasons at Mississippi State, was instrumental in helping the Bulldogs get by without McConkey earlier in the year. He had one catch for 18 yards before leaving Saturday’s game, giving him 23 catches for 383 yards and a touchdown on the year.
With McConkey and Thomas sidelined, Georgia leaned on Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and Dillon Bell. Those two responded with tremendous showings. Rosemy-Jacksaint caught seven passes for 91 yards and two scores while Bell had a career day with five grabs for 90 yards and a score. He also threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Rosemy-Jacksaint in the first quarter.
Ratledge started his 25th straight game on Saturday. It was the 26th start of his career overall after he opened the 2021 season at right guard but suffered a lis franc injury in Georgia’s 10-7 win over Clemson. A subsequent surgery forced him to miss the rest of that season.
Next up for Georgia is a trip to Atlanta to take on Georgia Tech. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC and the Bulldogs haven’t lost in Bobby Dodd Stadium since 1999.
