Georgia faces QB decision with consequences as Eason nears return

Jacob Eason is inching closer and closer to returning from the injury that's cost him the last four games, and that means decision day is drawing nigh for Kirby Smart.

Eason, who began the season as the starter but has been out of action since Georgia's opener against Appalachian State, has made consistent progress in his recovery from a knee sprain, and Smart confirmed the sophomore quarterback "looks much better" following Tuesday's practice, according to Seth Emerson of DawgNation.

Smart's comments may have brought about a sigh of relief from Bulldogs fans who think Eason is the man to lead the program to college football's Holy Grail, but there's one small element Smart needs to consider before plugging him back into the starting lineup:

The freshman quarterback who took Eason's place is looking pretty darn good right now.

In Eason's absence, Jake Fromm has taken the reins of the offense and has largely impressed, leading Georgia to a perfect 4-0 record including victories against ranked opponents Notre Dame and Mississippi State.

Does this sound vaguely familiar? It should.

Eason experienced a similar rise a year ago when he won the starting job over fifth-year senior Greyson Lambert after Week 1. But Eason's bigger victories didn't come until later in the season, against Auburn and later against TCU to capture the Liberty Bowl.

The current debate between Eason and Fromm isn't one revolving around poor performance, but rather a more complicated matter that's accented with ethical implications. Should a proven starting quarterback, or a player in any role in sports, lose his job simply because of something completely out of his control, like an injury?

There will be consequences to whatever decision Smart elects to make. Handing the offense back to Eason could disturb the momentum and the chemistry built up over the last four games, while sticking with Fromm could lead to displeasure over benching a quarterback who's proven he can compete at a high level.

Some may see the pending fork in the road as a good problem to have, and both roads could potentially lead to the win column. It will be Smart's job to pick the right one when the time comes, and then be prepared for bumps along the way.