ATLANTA — Georgia receiver Lawrence Cager underwent ankle surgery on Friday and is “doubtful” to return this season, UGA coach Kirby Smart said on Saturday.
Cager suffered what DawgNation reported was a “serious” ankle injury in practice on Wednesday, leading to the surgery and the graduate transfer senior not making the trip to Georgia Tech.
“He’s got an ankle injury, he had successful surgery on it (Friday),” Smart said. “He’ll make a quick recovery.”
But not quick enough for the 6-foot-5, 220-pound transfer from Miami to play in the SEC Championship Game at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday against LSU.
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The No. 4-ranked Bulldogs (11-1) will need to ride the momentum of their win over the Yellow Jackets (3-9), a 52-7 drubbing at Bobby Dodd Stadium, without the services of their leading receiver.
Cager had 33 catches for 476 yards to lead UGA through 11 games, including a 7-catch, 132-yard performance in the 24-17 win over Florida that Bulldogs’ fans will always remember.
He accomplished that even though he was playing with a separated shoulder that forced him to miss the second halves of the South Carolina, Missouri and Auburn games, as well as complete contests with Kentucky and Texas A&M.
Georgia fans got another scare when they saw leading rusher D’Andre Swift writhing in pain on the Grant Field turf.
Swift left the game in the third quarter with a shoulder injury, and then second-leading receiver George Pickens got ejected for fighting five minutes later in the third quarter.
The ejection means Pickens will have to miss the first half of the SEC Championship Game at 3:30 p.m. next Saturday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
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