Pickens debuts vs. Georgia Tech 8 months after tearing ACL
Georgia wide receiver George Pickens took his first snap of the season Saturday versus Georgia Tech, returning to the lineup eight months after he tore his ACL.
Pickens underwent knee surgery after tearing a ligament during spring practice in March. The team expected him to miss the entire 2021 campaign while recovering.
The junior caught a team-high six touchdowns last year and ranked second in receiving with 513 yards. Pickens led the Bulldogs with 727 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019.
Georgia entered the final week of the regular season atop the College Football Playoff rankings at 11-0 but could use more production from its wideouts.
Georgia's top WRs
| WR | Yards | TDs |
|---|---|---|
| Ladd McConkey | 376 | 3 |
| Jermaine Burton | 351 | 3 |
| Adonai Mitchell | 325 | 2 |
| Kearis Jackson | 158 | 1 |
Tight end Brock Bowers tops the Bulldogs in receptions (34), yards (552), and touchdown catches (8).
Pickens took snaps with the second and third units in practice to try and acclimate himself before doctors cleared him for game action, according to The Athletic's Seth Emerson.
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