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Georgia WR Ladd McConkey 'day-to-day' with back pain

On3 imageby: Jake Rowe09/04/23JakeMRowe
Ladd McConkey
Tony Walsh / UGA Sports Communications

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia was without one of it’s most explosive offensive weapons for the 2023 season opener vs. UT-Martin. The Bulldogs beat the Skyhawks 48-7 without leading wideout Ladd McConkey. Kirby Smart had a chance to speak further about the decision to hold the North Murray High School product out on Monday.

“Ladd, he’s day to day,” Smart said on Monday. “We thought he might be able to go last week, and he was really a game time decision. Didn’t feel good on Friday so we held him on Saturday. He’s running today, but he’s dealing with some back pain that’s been lingering for him.”

McConkey was absent the last time the media viewed practice on August 23. Early indications were that he was dealing with something minor and that he was expected to be back on the practice field soon. Kirby Smart even told reporters the Monday before the season opener that McConkey should be good to go.

“Ladd’s doing great,” Smart said in his Monday press conference. “We had to shut him down for a little bit. He had a little bit of a back injury but he’s fine. He’s dealt with it before. He had it last year. He practiced Saturday and it was good and expected to be out there today. So he should be fine.”

Brock Bowers was Georgia’s leading pass catcher last season ranking No. 1 in receptions and receiving yards. McConkey, however, was tops among the wideouts with 58 grabs for 762 yards and seven scores. McConkey added seven rushing attempts for 134 yards and two scores. Two of his receiving scores came in the 65-7 National Championship win over TCU. He also caught a two-point conversion in Georgia’s win over Ohio State in the Peach Bowl.

McConkey wasn’t the only offensive weapon missing in action for the UT-Martin game. Georgia lost sophomore running back Branson Robinson for the season a couple of weeks ago. He sustained a non-contact patella tendon tear during practice. He won’t return until 2024. Junior wideout Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint was also out. Smart called it an “internal” matter.

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