The Clemson football team is set to open up the 2021 season with a matchup against the Georgia Bulldogs in Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC.
The Tigers are coming off a streak of six-straight seasons in which they’ve made it to the CFB Playoff and are looking to continue that impressive streak in 2021. The first step will be finding a way to down the Bulldogs in a game in which millions across the nation will be watching extremely close.
Georgia star wide receiver George Pickens suffered a torn ACL during spring camp and the expectation is for him to be out for the beginning of the season. The Bulldogs have also had a few others banged up, though the coaching staff has been keeping the extent of injuries under wraps.
Now, there are two more key Bulldogs who may very well be out for the opener against Clemson.
According to 247 Sports’ Josh Pate, TE Darnell Washington and DB Tykee Smith are expected to miss 3-4 weeks minimum with foot injuries. Sports Illustrated reported that Smith had surgery on his foot.
UGA sources: Darnell Washington & Tykee Smith are each expected to miss 3-4 weeks minimum with foot injuries sustained in practice yesterday.
— Josh Pate (@LateKickJosh) August 18, 2021
Unlikely to be available vs Clemson.
Both Washington and Smith are projected starters and were expected to be key contributors against the Tigers.
It should be pointed out that DawgNation’s Mike Griffith previously reported that both would be back for the Clemson game, but that report came before the news that Pate broke.
Clemson football needs to be prepared for Georgia’s best shot no matter the personnel
We’re still two and a half weeks away from kickoff, so there is no certainty on who will be available and who won’t be available for Georgia or Clemson at this point.
Georgia has had a little bit of bad luck when it comes to injuries in preseason camp, but that doesn’t mean the Bulldogs don’t have plenty of talent.
Clemson will continue to prepare to get Georgia’s best shot– and there’s no doubt the Tigers will get their best shot– and that needs to be the mindset heading into this one.
Clemson football might have a little bit of an advantage when it comes to how beat up the Tigers are coming out of fall camp compared to the Bulldogs, but that won’t mean anything when the two teams meet in Charlotte.