Kirby Smart gives game-week injury updates on Ladd McConkey, Warren McClendon
We’re just six days ahead away from a College Football Playoff semifinal match between No. 1 Georgia and No. 4 Ohio State. The head coaches for each team spoke to reporters on Monday with Kirby Smart having a chance to shed some light on knee injuries suffered by redshirt sophomore wideout Ladd McConkey and fourth-year junior offensive tackle Warren McClendon.
“Yeah we’re excited to hopefully get those guys back,” Smart said on Monday via zoom.
There was just over a minute left in the first half of the SEC Championship game when McConkey went down. He was tackled going out of bounds after a 22-yard gain and when the defenders got up off the turf, McConkey didn’t. He was clutching his right knee.
“McClendon is a light MCL [sprain]. Don’t know how long it will be,” Smart said after the SEC title game. “He wasn’t able to go back in obviously. Don’t know what grade is. Ladd’s is a continuation of what he’s been having. His knees have been bothering him, and he has some tendinitis in there. It didn’t so much hurt him on the play as it just started aggravating him more and didn’t feel like he could go.”
McConkey has been Georgia’s most lethal weapon on the outside this season. He has 51 catches for 675 yards and five scores on the year while adding 120 rushing yards and two scores on the ground. He trails just Kenny McIntosh and Brock Bowers in total yards on the year.
The Bulldogs had just gotten healthy at wideout when McConkey went down. Sophomore split end AD Mitchell had essentially missed 11 straight games before playing 15 snaps in the SEC Championship game. He was targeted just once but he did complete a pass to Darnell Washington to convert a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter.
If McConkey is unable to get back to full strength before the Peach Bowl, the Bulldogs would then lean heavily on Mitchell along with Dillon Bell, a true freshman, and maybe more of Arian Smith at the outside receiver positions.
McClendon has been a stalwart for Georgia at right tackle for the past three seasons, starting 37 straight games. He won the job a game into the 2020 season and hasn’t let it go. The Bulldogs have built some depth at the offensive tackle position this year as McClendon has rotated with Amarius Mims at different points during game. McClendon has also flipped over to left tackle during portions of games as well.
Smart also provided an update on freshman outside linebacker Marvin Jones Jr., who is dealing with a high-ankle sprain. Jones is currently conditioning on the side during practice and Smart says he could return to practice soon.
The College Football Playoff semifinal matchup between Georgia and Ohio State will take place on December 31. Kickoff is set for 8: p.m. ET on ESPN.
