Kirby Smart updates Georgia's injuries ahead of fall camp, speaks about key replacement
Kirby Smart shared Georgia’s injury situation ahead of fall camp.
Inside linebacker Smael Mondon and running back Branson Robinson will both be running, but they’re not going to be full-speed practicing. They’re ahead of schedule from 5 or 6 weeks ago, but not cleared to practice.
Defensive lineman Mykel Williams has done some football activity, at a lower volume, and fellow defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is dealing with a stress reaction in a foot, but it’s not a break.
“It’s a goal of training camp to establish physical and mental toughness,” Smart said. “How do you do that? You don’t go out and say, ‘Oh God, please don’t get hurt.’ Football’s a tough, dangerous sport, which we practice as smart as anybody in the country. We feel like we have a method that allows us to be physical and be tough and also protect our players.”
Xavian Sorey is expected to step into a larger role while Mondon is limited. Smart said the most growth Sorey’s seen has come in the last 5 or 6 months.
“Since Smael’s injury, he has grown exponentially in terms of confidence, ability to execute, he’s been healthy, No.1, and he’s had a lot of opportunity of reps of being out there with the 1s. [Xavian is] a guy who has really picked it up in terms of leadership and growth, and he has a lot of athletic ability,” Smart said.