With No. 5 Georgia's season-opening showdown against No. 3 Clemson less than three weeks away, the hits keep coming for the Bulldogs. Dawgs247 reported Wednesday that tight end Darnell Washington and defensive back Tykee Smith are expected to be out "at least three weeks" due to foot injuries sustained in Tuesday's practice. That timeline would leave UGA without both players for the Clemson game on Sept. 4 as absences continue to mount in preseason practice for coach Kirby Smart's squad.
Washington is a breakout candidate at tight end for the Bulldogs after the 6-foot-7 behemoth showed in the spring game how his size poses mismatches. Smith, meanwhile, is a transfer from West Virginia who was expected to plug in immediately at the nickel position for Georgia after starring for the Mountaineers the past two seasons.
While Georgia has accumulated impressive depth through recruiting and the transfer portal under Smart, the absence of Washington leaves quarterback JT Daniels down yet another target as the Bulldogs prepare for the season. LSU transfer receiver Arik Gilbert is away from the team for personal reasons, and returning receivers George Pickens, Jermaine Burton, Kearis Jackson and Dominick Blaylock have been limited or out during preseason practice due to injury.
Though Jackson and Burton have been spotted back at practice this week, the revolving door at receiver and tight end during camp is not ideal for the SEC East favorites, especially considering the magnitude of their season opener. Projected starting center Warren Ericson has also dealt with a hand injury during camp for Georgia in another example of how injuries has likely stunted the development of offensive chemistry for the Bulldogs.
