ATLANTA — Georgia coach Kirby Smart said he expects tailback D’Andre Swift to be “fine” for next Saturday’s SEC Championship Game.
The No. 4-ranked Bulldogs’ star running back left the 52-7 win over Georgia Tech at the 9:32 mark of the third quarter after taking a hit and fumbling the ball away at the Yellow Jackets’ 4-yard line.
Swift, a junior who has surpassed 1,000 yards rushing each of the past two seasons, was taken inside a sideline medical tent for several minutes.
Swift emerged with an ice bag on his left shoulder and stayed on the bench for the remainder of the game.
Quarterback Jake Fromm and fellow tailback James Cook came over to Swift and prayed with him at one point.
Smart indicated Swift wasn’t hurt as bad as it originally appeared.
“He probably could have gone back in the game if he needed to,” Smart said at the postgame press conference.
Georgia was leading 24-7 at the time of Swift’s injury.
“He knew that wasn’t what we needed to do, we needed to rest him and get him ready,” Smart said. “He’s been a warrior and a leader of this team. His spirit we’ll need next week, because he’s got a lot of energy and emotion that we need.”
Smart said Swift has been dealing with bruising throughout the season.
“He’s had shoulder contusions and it’s bothered him from time to time,” Smart said. “But he’s a really tough guy.”
Georgia plays LSU at 3:30 p.m. at Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a trip to the College Football Playoff on the line.
Swift had 10 carries for 73 yards against Georgia Tech, giving him 1,203 for the season.
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