Georgia football has largely managed to avoid major injuries during fall camp. However, on Tuesday, a rumor began circulating on social media suggesting that standout defender Joenel Aguero had sustained a serious injury in practice.
This sparked concern among fans, as Aguero is expected to play a key role on Georgia’s defense this season. Losing him would have been a major setback.
Fortunately, head coach Kirby Smart put those rumors to rest on Wednesday.
“I assume you’re talking about the misinformation that came out last night,” Smart said, per on3.com. “Joenel is our STAR. He’s totally fine, healthy, and ready to go. We’re excited to see his continued growth.”
Aguero is entering his third year with the Bulldogs and is aiming to become a top contributor on defense. While he had a limited role last season—registering 26 tackles and not much else statistically—he still showed strong potential during his sophomore campaign.
Now poised for a larger role, the injury speculation caused understandable panic. Thankfully, Smart cleared the air, and Georgia appears to be in good shape on the injury front ahead of their season opener against Marshall.
The only lingering injury concern is punter Brett Thorson, who injured his knee during last season’s SEC Championship. He has started kicking again in live drills, but may still be sidelined for Saturday’s game.
All things considered, if Thorson is the only key player unavailable for the opener, Georgia’s injury outlook is very positive.