Two offensive skill players appear out of action in first Georgia preseason scrimmage
With parents unloading vehicles as students move in to dorms on the other side of Lumpkin Street across from Sanford Stadium on Saturday, the Georgia football team held its first preseason scrimmage.
There was a sign outside “Private Practice—Check in.”
There were hundreds of high-end donors who had access on an afternoon with temperatures in the lows 80s.
Reporters were let in for eight minutes during position work prior to the scrimmage.
Running back Kendall Milton wasn’t spotted. Word had circulated that he was dealing with an injury. His father on Friday tweeted indicating that it wasn’t a major deal, but then he deleted the post.
UPDATE: Kirby Smart said later Milton has a grade 1 hamstring pull. "It's not severe," he said.
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Kenny McIntosh went first with the running backs followed by Daijun Edwards and then freshmen Branson Robinson and Andrew Paul.
Milton, the junior from Fresno, Calif., rushed for 264 yards on 56 carries last season when he missed six games due to an MCL and shoulder injury. He played in seven of 10 games in 2020 also due to an MCL injury.
As expected, wide receiver Arian Smith who has had an injury-riddled Georgia career was absent with what is believed to be an ankle injury. UPDATE: He will require surgery for a high ankle sprain and his timetable for a return isn't certain.
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Georgia opens its season in three weeks against Oregon in Atlanta.
Some other observations:
--The first defensive line group appeared to be Jalen Carter, Zion Logue and Tramel Walthour. They were followed by freshman Mykel Williams, Nazir Stackhouse and Bill Norton. Freshman Bear Alexander and redshirt freshman Jonathan Jefferson were third-team guys.
--Smart got on defensive back Tykee Smith for walking to the next practice period while everyone else was moving at a pace that Smart liked. He indicated it wasn’t the first time that’s happened. Smith is coming back from a torn ACL, but has practiced at least in a limited capacity.
--The music of choice when we first got out on the field on the public address system was Will Smith’s ‘Getting’ Jiggy Wit it.” Chris Rock was not available to comment.
This article originally appeared on Athens Banner-Herald: Georgia football missing Kendall Milton, Arian Smith in 1st scrimmage
