Earlier this week, news broke that Georgia superstar wide receiver suffered a torn ACL in practice and will undergo surgery shortly.
DawgNation was heartbroken to hear the news that they will be without one of their most lethal offensive weapons. But is there actually a chance that Georgia will not be without Pickens for the entirety of the 2021 season?
Kirby Smart is optimistic that Pickens will be able to play this year, and so is Pickens himself.
“Obviously, I think there’s a chance he’s back in 21,” Smart said during his Thursday Zoom call. “We’ve had kids that have ACL injuries, I liken it to Divaad (Wilson). Divadd (who also suffered an ACL tear) got his when he first got here on the third day of spring practice.
“I think he was cleared to go somewhere around Florida week.”
Smart mentioned that Wilson did not play against Florida week not because of his injury, but because of his inexperience at the time. Pickens, however, will be a junior this year and should he be healthy enough to play at any point in 2021, that decision to allow him to play will be decided by Sports Medicine Director Ron Courson.
“George knows most of the offense, and he’s played more, and he’s older,” Smart said. “(But) all of that will be dictated by Ron (Courson). We’re not concerned with that right now. What we’re concerned with is a great surgery and a great rehab, he has a long career ahead of him.
“That will be a situation where the doctors make the medical decisions.”
Smart also added that Pickens has continued to remain engaged with the team.