The Athletic has live coverage of the SEC championship game featuring Alabama vs. Georgia
ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia is trending toward having tight end Brock Bowers and receivers Ladd McConkey and Rara Thomas for the SEC Championship Game, although coach Kirby Smart cautioned Thursday that he still doesn’t know their availability.
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“I’m trying to figure that out myself,” Smart said during an SEC teleconference to preview Saturday’s game against Alabama. “I don’t have any more answers now than I had on Monday. They have not been able to do a lot. Each one has worked kind of independently (at practice).”
Bowers has “sprinkled in” some drills and team work this week at practice, while McConkey and Thomas have done some running, Smart said, adding he would find out later Thursday what their availability would be.
Georgia was without all three players, who rank among the team’s top five in receiving yards, in last week’s 31-23 win at Georgia Tech.
Bowers sat out the Georgia Tech game because Smart said the star tight end was sore after warm-ups. Bowers played the previous two games after missing only two games due to tightrope surgery to fix a high ankle sprain.
McConkey suffered a low-ankle sprain in the win over Ole Miss, finishing that game with 81 receiving yards and a touchdown. He tried to play the next week against Tennessee then left after a few snaps and didn’t suit up last week.
Thomas hurt his foot at Tennessee and did not suit up last week.
What we know about their availabilities
Smart said he was bothered by the notion that the injured receivers, along with guard Tate Ratledge, were healthy enough to play at Georgia Tech but were held out to save them for Alabama.
“It bothers me that people said out there that we sat these guys for the last game. That wasn’t the last case at all. They couldn’t go. And I don’t know if they’ll be able to go in this game,” Smart said. “It’s just unfortunate to have those kinds of injuries, especially four starters on offense.”
Bowers was the closest to being able to play, going through warmups, and Ratledge was also in uniform. Georgia’s practices have been closed to the media this week, as they have been since early in the preseason, but there is optimism within the program that Bowers and McConkey will play, according to program sources, and Thomas has a chance. That could change if there is a setback between now and the game, but considering the importance of the game, every indication is they will play if they can.
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Georgia (12-0) is the top-ranked team in the College Football Playoff rankings but could fall out with a loss, especially if No. 4 Florida State and No. 7 Texas win their conference championship games.
Other Georgia injuries
Ratledge, the starting right guard, could return after not playing at Georgia Tech. Ratledge suffered a bone bruise in his knee in the Tennessee game. Georgia replaced him by moving Xavier Truss (who has started at tackle and guard) to right guard, and the line fared well. But Ratledge was the starter for the line that is potentially one of the best in the country, so if he’s close to full health, he will start.
“Tate has been able to do some drill work, some 11-on-11 stuff,” Smart said.
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, a preseason All-SEC pick at inside linebacker, is expected to miss a fourth straight game with a forearm injury. The hope is to get him back for the Playoff if Georgia makes it.
Smael Mondon, the other starting inside linebacker, has been playing through an unspecified injury.
(Photo of Brock Bowers, left: Eakin Howard / Getty Images)
