Jalen Geiger is officially back after scoring a defensive TD in his return

For Jalen Geiger, Saturday’s home opener at Kroger Field was more than the first game of his senior season at Kentucky. The safety hadn’t seen any game action since suffering a season-ending injury last September in the Wildcats’ win at Florida.

Nearly a full calendar year later, Geiger scored a defensive touchdown in his first game back from knee surgery, scooping up a loose ball and returning it 69 yards for a first-half score.

Alex Afari put on the HIT STICK and Jalen Geiger picks up the second defensive touchdown of his career. pic.twitter.com/JAiDJAngyA

— KSR (@KSRonX) September 2, 2023

“It means everything to me,” Geiger said afterward. “It was like a surreal moment, just out there running. The whole thing is surreal, just playing football again. It was crazy, all the rehab I did to get back to this moment, and it was good for me to make a play.”

It was the longest Geiger’s ever had to run in a game, he admitted.

The knee must be doing OK.

Sideline celebration with the doctor

When Geiger returned to the sideline after his big play, he was mobbed by excited teammates and coaches. Also on the sideline, the doctor who did his surgery.

“He came up and talked to me,” Geiger revealed in his postgame comments. “I almost shed some tears. He told me, I’m back now.”

Hear more from Geiger, his defensive coordinator, and Alex Afari, who made the hit to set up the long return.

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