Georgia TE Darnell Washington dressed out, will try to play in National Championship
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — It appears as if Georgia tight end Darnell Washington will give it a go in the National Championship game. After suffering a foot/ankle injury against Ohio State nine days ago, Washington is dressed out running routes prior to the Bulldogs winner-take-all matchup with TCU.
That’s better than it was last Saturday when he was in a walking boot and using crutches. Kirby Smart initially called it an ankle sprain, saying he wasn’t sure whether it was the usual low-ankle sprain or the dreaded high-ankle version.
Some to find it out was more a bruise and a strain per what Smart told ESPN’s Marty Smith earlier in the week. That apparently increased Washington’s chances of being available.
When the Bulldogs arrived in La-La Land on Friday, Smart echoed the same thing he has been saying for days. UGA is “hopeful” that he will play. Video of Washington boarding the bus as the team left Athens showed a slight limp. That same limp was there when he arrived in L.A.
The 6-foot-7 265-pound tight end is one of the Bulldogs most effective blockers both when he’s attached to the line of scrimmage and when he is split out. He’s also one of four players on the team with more than 400-yards receiving. He has 27 grabs for 426 yards and two scores on the year. There’s zero doubt that the Bulldogs would benefit from having Washington on the field and effective, but even he admits that missed reps are hard to overcome. Still, he has been following along as closely as possible.
“Kind of, but not really,” Washington said when asked about being set back by missing practice time. “During practice, I stay out there. I watch all the new plays we put in. Mentally, I’m there. It’s more from a physical standpoint.”
If Washington is unable to go, Georgia will turn to true freshman Oscar Delp. He served as UGA’s second tight end last week as the Bulldogs overcame two separate 14-point deficits to knock off Ohio State 42-41. Delp held his own then and Washington expects that to be the case again — if necessary.
He did it in the semifinal game,” Washington said of Delp. “We’re all great players. We practice against one of the best defenses in the nation. So if we can do that, yeah, he can do it”
More on UGA injuries…
In other news, wide receiver Ladd McConkey and outside linebacker Chaz Chambliss are also dressed and going through warmups. McConkey is running routes and returning punts with a sleeve on his left knee. Chambliss is sporting knee brace but will play.
Redshirt junior offensive tackle Warren McClendon was announced as a starter in pre-game warmup. If that holds true, he’ll get the start at right tackle. Amarius Mims started there last week.
