Georgia Bulldogs: Chubb officially cleared…what about Michel?
Georgia Bulldogs running back Nick Chubb has officially been cleared to play in the season opener against North Carolina on Saturday. There’s one running back issue resolved, but what about Sony Michel?
After tracking his miraculous and ahead of schedule recovery all summer, news finally broke on Monday afternoon that the Georgia Bulldogs star running back Nick Chubb has been cleared to play in the season opener with no limitations.
VIA Edward Aschoff of ESPN.com:
"“He’s been cleared,” coach Kirby Smart said during his weekly news conference Monday. “It’s a situation where he’s scrimmaged and done live things. Had a lot of practices where he’s carried it more than five or seven times. We feel good about Nick, he feels great, and he’s ready to go. He won’t technically be on a pitch count by any means.”Chubb has been ahead of his rehab schedule for months since he damaged several knee ligaments when he went down awkwardly on his first carry againstTennessee in October. The junior, who has rushed for 2,294 yards and 21 touchdowns in less than two full seasons of work, will return from his horrific knee injury less than a year later."
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Chubb officially being cleared to play comes at little surprise considering his recent improvement and physical performance at camp. His return gives both the team and fans something to look forward to amidst a great deal uncertainty, especially with so much attention focused on when Coach Smart will name a starting quarterback. With so much going on and just five days remaining until game time, have we forgotten about Sony Michel?
Injury Update: Sony Michel
Though Chubb has been cleared to play, Michel remains on the waiting list. However, Coach Smart is confident that he has the potential to play in the season opener; he just hasn’t been cleared to play. Coach Smart addressed Michel‘s progress in an interview with Paul Finebaum that aired on Friday.
"“I’ve got great confidence in Sony,” Smart said. “Sony’s worked really hard to get in shape. So the reports not being favorable, I don’t know if that’s accurate. The kid’s out there doing everything he’s been cleared to do. He just hasn’t been cleared to do everything.”Michel has been practicing for the last two weeks with the team and going through all of the same drills as the rest of the running backs during media-viewing periods. He’s also had a light, padded wrap on his left forearm after having surgery to repair an open fracture on July 4.He hasn’t however, been tackled in live action or even been “thudded up” by his teammates during scrimmage work. Smart isn’t yet sure when that might happen. A decision on the North Carolina game could come in the 11th hour."
Next: Braves: How does Dansby's first week stack up?
Looks like the Georgia Bulldogs could be making two game-time decisions this Saturday. The Georgia Bulldogs and North Carolina Tar Heels go head to head Sept. 3 in the Georgia Dome at 5:30 p.m. EST on ESPN.