Georgia football has been without two of its most talented players since fall camp. Both tight end Darnell Washington and transfer defensive back Tykee Smith have been recovering from ankle surgeries the last five weeks.
UGA coach Kirby Smart gave a status update for Washington and Smith in his Monday press conference ahead of Georgia’s matchup with Vanderbilt this Saturday.
“We haven’t ruled out this weekend,” Smart told reporters. “They were back running last week, weight-bearing, like running on their own. So we’ve thought all along that this would be the target, this week or next. But can’t say they’re going to be cleared for this game. I’ll find out a lot more today because they’re going to be able to run, do some exercises. Not necessarily be in their groups but they’re going to be running and accelerating on their own…They’re on 100 percent of their weight as of Thursday/Friday. We’re moving them forward and we’ll see where they are today.”
Smart added that both Bulldogs targeted this week’s matchup with Vanderbilt as the return date.
The fact that Washington and Smith are progressing to the point where they are running and cutting is great news for the Bulldogs, who have been riddled with injuries early on.
Star receiver George Pickens is still working back from an ACL tear in the spring, but the media caught a glimpse of the junior straight-line running and catching passes in practice on Monday. Smart said wideout Dominick Blaylock was almost back to 100% from an ACL tear until he tweaked his hamstring, signaling it will be sometime before he’s ready for gameplay.
It’s not like UGA doesn’t have guys who can step in and make plays, though, Adonai Mitchell was named SEC Freshman of the Week for his play against South Carolina, racking up four catches for 77 yards and his first career touchdown.
On defense, other than a few chunk plays versus the Gamecocks, UGA’s young secondary has played well without Smith, the top returning defensive back in college football, according to Pro Football Focus.
The addition of Washington and Smith – whenever it may be – can only be a boost to the No. 2 team in the land.
Former Georgia defensive end Ray Drew joins J.C. to talk his UGA career, big games in Sanford Stadium, his welcome to the SEC moment and more in a new episode of ‘UGA Football Live with J.C. Shelton’. Listen here:
‘