Georgia WR Ladd McConkey to miss second straight game with back injury
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia played without it’s leading-returning wideout in it’s season-opening 48-7 win over UT-Martin last week and it’ll have to do the same against Ball State in week two. Ladd McConkey will sit the game out with a back injury sustained during camp. The North Murray High School product isn’t in uniform as the Bulldogs go through pregame warmup.
McConkey is, however, practicing. He worked with the team in a limited capacity every day this week according to persons with knowledge of the situation, doing more as the week went on. Sources tell DawgsHQ that McConkey’s missed time and limited status in practice is precautionary.
“He’s done routes on air, he’s run, he’s cut but he has not taken hits and done reps, practice reps,” Smart said of McConkey earlier this week. He’s done reps on air.”
Brock Bowers was Georgia’s leading pass catcher last season ranking No. 1 in receptions and receiving yards. McConkey, however, was tops among the wideouts with 58 grabs for 762 yards and seven scores. McConkey added seven rushing attempts for 134 yards and two scores. Two of his receiving scores came in the 65-7 National Championship win over TCU. He also caught a two-point conversion in Georgia’s win over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.
Smart on McConkey at Georgia – Ball State media day
When Smart spoke to reporters on Monday, he indicated that the decision to sit McConkey against UT-Martin was made the night before the game.
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“Ladd, he’s day to day,” Smart said on Monday. “We thought he might be able to go last week, and he was really a game time decision. Didn’t feel good on Friday so we held him on Saturday. He’s running today, but he’s dealing with some back pain that’s been lingering for him.”
Smart’s first comments on the UGA wideout…
We first noticed McConkey missing in action on the practice field a little over two weeks ago. During the last media viewing period late last month, McConkey was absent. Reporters had to wait until Monday of UT-Martin week to ask Smart, where he gave a bit of an optimistic prognosis.
“Ladd’s doing great,” Smart said in his the Monday before Georgia’s opener press conference. “We had to shut him down for a little bit. He had a little bit of a back injury but he’s fine. He’s dealt with it before. He had it last year. He practiced Saturday and it was good and expected to be out there today. So he should be fine.”
