Quick recovery? Kirby Smart says George Pickens may still play this season, speaks about other contributors
Georgia saw a dynamic playmaker suffer a serious injury earlier this week when star WR George Pickens suffered an ACL injury that will require surgery.
But on Thursday, coach Kirby Smart said that Divaad Wilson also tore his ACL during spring 2018 and was cleared to play late in the season. Smart also cited games Georgia played last season without Pickens, including Florida.
“George will be dearly missed because he’s talented, he works really hard, he makes our whole team better,” Smart said. “I know that’s obvious in terms of what he does offensively, but he makes all the defensive backs better. So when you talk about challenging guys, there’s no greater matchup for a young DB to go against, than to go against George. That part we don’t control, but what we do control is how we respond to it, and George knows injuries are part of the game, and we’ll have other guys step up, and I’m very hopeful that George gets well and is able to come back.”
Pickens finished last season with 36 catches, which tied for the team lead, and had 513 yards (second on the team) and a team-high 6 touchdown receptions. He started all 10 games for the Bulldogs last season and was expected to be one of the best receivers in the country this season.
Smart said that Pickens loves football, and will continue to stay around the team as he recovers from the surgery and rehabs his knee.
“Obviously we think there’s a chance he’s back in ’21,” Smart said. “… He’s got a long career ahead of him.”
Smart was asked about a host of players and said, “I think we’ve got plenty of good players. Tight end, running back, receiver, yeah it hurts, it definitely hurts, but the positive in this is would you rather they found that out now, or would you rather them find that out the week before the Clemson game.”
Gotta wonder if we will ever see George in a Dawgs uniform again.
LONG BUT NOTEWORTHY I THINK…..
@Red and Black……I would bet money we will. Probably a season and a little of next season. It depends on how much of next season he can play and how does he perform? I’m betting we see him the next season to. Because nobody is going to draft a wide receiver high without being 100% positive he’s back and at his best.
He might not be totally his best even when he gets back. Which I fully expect will be next season. Even then, I’m betting he does like Nick Chubb and returns one more season!!! Just to have a full season under his belt and be back at his best!!!
But there is zero chance of never seeing him again. I know you think he gets well and bolts to the NFL. And I would agree except that he won’t be a high enough draft choice. Unless he comes back and just DAZZLES RIGHT OFF THE BAT!!! Then maybe we only see him a few games. But we will see him, no doubt!!! I’m betting its a little next season and a lot the next season after that!!!!
Think of JT Daniels. There wasn’t a QB EVER that had a better high school career than he did. I mean NOBODY! He was better for 3 years than Justin Fields, Bryce Young or Trevor Lawrence. Then he reclassified. Skipped his senior season and went straight to starting for what was QBU as a TRUE FRESHMEN. Anyway, a young team with young wide receivers and a TERRIBLE O LINE. Yet he still held his own. Came back the next season and AGAIN WON THE JOB! Got injured first game.
Transfers to UGA….
Nobody much talks about him aside from ME!!! Most were saying he’s just average because they had no clue who JT Daniels was. Take Justin Fields as an example. He didn’t exactly burn it up with Georgia his freshman season. He remained a backup!!! When he played he flashed at times but made tons of mistakes. And he wasn’t supposed to still be a senior in high school!!!
Either way, nobody was calling Justin Fields average!!!! But everyone and their brother including a few X Georgia QBs were saying. ” IF KIRBY HAD A BETTER QB THAN STETSON BENNETT. THEY WOULD BE PLAYING!!! ” I said BS to that immediately!!! Georgia didn’t have ONE QB THAT WAS BETTER. They had TWO of them!!! Carson Beck is also better than Stetson Bennett. But possibly not as ready back then. But anyway, everyone said. Well let’s at least see if SUPERSTAR JT Daniels can play a little better than Bennett!!! I told everyone to QUOTE, WATCH HIS SMOKE!!!!!!! Once he finally got in because I new all about him.
His very first game back from injury. He throws for over 400 yards and 4 Tds! And he actually threw 6 long TD PASSES. But the receiver dropped the other 2 and they wouldn’t have counted. But they were on the money!!!!
SO MY POINT…..
They were all saying that JT Daniels is probably a first round draft choice in this NFL draft. But just to be certain. He came back another year and that was the right move!!!! That is what I believe George Pickens will choose to do. Remember a receivers ACL means more to them than a QBs does!!!
But luckily I think we have at least a part of next season and then the entire one after that for George Pickens to play at UGA. Either way. He is always missed. But Smart is not just blowing smoke. We have other wide receivers this time. I’m probably as excited to see Arion Smith as anyone including George!!! Because his speed is an absolute killer to defenses!!! I can honestly see Arion Smith scoring the first play from scrimmage against clemson. If they use play action and throw instead of run!!!!
Arion Smith is the fastest man in college football!!! Then we have 5 star speedster Demetrius Robertson to. But he is not as fast as Arion Smith!!! Jackson Meeks is a burner and going to be a playmaker in my opinion!!! We know about Blaylock, Kearis Jackson and J Burton. We don’t need more hype but UGA is loaded!!!
But honestly it’s the depth at QB this season. That has me the most excited!!! If they play it right. God willing we will always have an elite QB and a couple behind him. Just in case we end up needing a spark if the starter is having a bad day!!! Alabama would never have won in 2017 or 2018 against UGA without their backup QB!!! They didn’t win in 2017!!!! The REFS gifted it to them. But even then it took Tua!!!
PS. BS or not. Two of the last 3 games with Alabama would have went to UGA. If not for the backup QB!!! Hopefully this season. That will be our luxury if needed!!!!
Negan
Not sure why you post these long-winded comments behind mine.
They are too long and I don’t read them.
Try breaking up your comments into smaller segments. I’m sure you have something interesting to say but I’m not going to read those lengthy posts of yours to find it.
“Smart also cited games Georgia played last season without Pickens, including Florida”
Ok, not sure of what the point of that comment was given that it was an L. Did not matter if Pickens played in that game or not. There was still the issue of Stetson Bennett playing QB. Dawgs could have had Devonta Smith out there, does not matter if your QB can’t get it to them.
Bennett was pretty good in the first half. I think I remember we were leading Bama at halftime. I don’t anybody else led Bama at halftime last year other UGA. We got behind and Stetson tried to make some things happen and made some mistakes. I don’t pin that loss on him.
Bennett also got his right arm badly dinged up in that first half vs Bama and didn’t seem right from that moment on. Right before the half if I recall correctly. I can’t remember exactly what play but if you recall he went to the locker room for a bit before returning.
If Kirby Smart lets that young man play in 21 he should be taken out and shot. Let the knee heal. Medicine has made great progress with knee surgeries but the body can only heal so fast.
Kirby won’t play anyone till Ron Courson says it’s OK, and Ron is the best in the business. Ron has likely overseen more knee rehabs than anyone currently in CFB. He began the rehab program at UGA in 1995, and did the same at Bama for 5 years prior. The list of successful ACL rehabs he’s managed over the years is long and illustrious, including Todd Gurley and Nick Chubb. He literally saved D’Wan Mathis’ life with his quick and detailed response to a simple headache complaint. No kid’s health or future at UGA is ever endangered by moving too fast with Ron at the sports medicine wheel.
Even after Ron green-lights a player, Kirby has to feel comfortable with the kid playing – see JT Daniels last year
So which is it? Kirby is too cautious on injured players (JT Daniels) or Kirby is rushing them back (George Pickens). If he’s ready, he’ll play him. If not, he won’t. He has a pretty good track record here.
Anyway, did we say that about Waddle hobbling around in the championship game? I don’t blame the dude, not at all. But I’m not sure he should have been left out there so long as he was when he was obviously hurting.
Point is, Kirby is not known for rushing people back. Quite the opposite.
I’m not betting on it.