Kirby Smart Updates The Status of UGA Football Star WR Ladd McConkey
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ATHENS - UGA Football is banged up at the start of the 2023 campaign, and the status of its star wide receiver Ladd McConkey is still a little up in the air with five days until kickoff against Ball State. Kirby Smart updated the media on Monday, saying that he is “day to day.”
It was unclear heading into the season opener against UT Martin whether or not McConkey would suit up, but it was confirmed during warmups that he would be sitting out when he walked out of the tunnel without pads.
Georgia’s offense got out to a slow start on Saturday, and McConkey, viewed by professional scouts as a legitimate NFL talent, is not a player Georgia wants on the sidelines as it transitions to a new quarterback and offensive coordinator.
Here is his full statement from Monday on where McConkey is at with his back injury:
“Ladd (McConkey), he’s day to day. We thought he might be able to go last week and he wasn’t. He was really a game time decision. He didn’t feel good on Friday, so we held him on Saturday. He’s running today, but he’s been dealing with some back pain that’s been lingering for him,” Smart said.
Walk-on wide receiver Mekhi Mews got a lot of buzz during the offseason for how strong he was coming on, and that translated immediately, as he grabbed three passes for 75 yards and a long touchdown on Saturday. He was also the team’s starting punt returner and kick returner in the season opener.
Mews played a lot of what McConkey’s role has been the last two seasons for Georgia.
The Bulldogs were without the team’s returning leading rusher from last season in Daijun Edwards. He has been dealing with an MCL sprain, but his absence has been chalked up to a precaution.
“We feel like Daijun (Edwards) could have played in that game (UT Martin). He practiced, he warmed up, he did everything leading up to the game. He’s actually had this injury before,” Smart said.
Edwards is also expected to have a role in the receiving game, an area of the offense that Kenny McIntosh has left a big gap in for Georgia with his departure to the NFL.
“We feel good about him. I haven’t seen him practice today, so I don’t know that, but I feel pretty good about Daijun,” Smart said.
Georgia’s other starting running back, Kendall Milton, did see action on Saturday after battling a hamstring injury during fall camp. He finished with nine carries for 53 yards in limited action.
“Kendall (Milton) is dying to get out there. He loves this program. He will give anything to this program,” Smart said.
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