Smart offers positive injury updates on Ladd McConkey, Xavier Truss
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia earned its second shutout victory of the 2022 season on Saturday, blanking Vanderbilt 55-0. The Bulldogs scored early and often to put the Commodores away but an already banged-up football team sustained a couple of injuries in the process.
Redshirt sophomore wideout Ladd McConkey left the game in the third quarter with an ankle injury. He did not return. Fourth-year junior left guard Xavier Truss also had the leave the game with a lower-body injury. He wasn’t able to come back, either.
But when Kirby Smart spoke to reporters after the game, he didn’t seem too concerned about either ailment.
“Ladd’s fine,” Smart said afterward. “He could have gone back. We taped his ankle up. I thought it was worse when it actually happened. He came back and said he could go. Truss was fine. Just walked by him coming over here. He’s fine.”
Ladd McConkey sustained his ankle injury after coming down with an 18-yard reception from Stetson Bennett IV. He initially needed some help to get off the field but walked into the injury tent under his own power. He stayed in the tent for a few minutes before coming out under his own power and without a limp. Ladd McConkey continued to stand on the sideline for the rest of the game and was next to wide receivers coach Bryan McClendon for a large portion of the final 20 or so minutes of the contest.
McConkey caught four passes for 49 yards in the game. That gives him 29 catches for 363 yards and a touchdown on the year. Ladd McConkey leads the team in catches and is No. 2 in receiving yards. He also has three carries for 29 yards and a touchdown on the year to go with 13 punt returns for 132 yards.
Truss has started at left guard for each of Georgia’s seven games this season. He has shared some crunch-time snaps with Devin Willock in recent weeks.
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The Bulldogs were also without a pair of key defenders against Vanderbilt. Junior defensive tackle Jalen Carter (knee) and sophomore inside linebacker Smael Mondon (ankle) missed their second straight games.
Both are looking to return after the Bulldogs’ upcoming bye week but according to Smart, Mondon is still battling the ailment he sustained two weeks ago against Missouri.
“Smael’s pushing again,” Smart said. “It’s more recent because it happened in the Missouri game. I don’t know that he was really close today, close this week. It’s one of those deals that we continue to treat him and get him better. If he can’t, then it’s next man up.”
Georgia will have some time to lick its wounds with two weeks before it’s next game. That will come on October 29 against Florida in Jacksonville. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS.
