Georgia receiver Rosemy-Jacksaint to miss season after gruesome ankle injury

Georgia wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint underwent surgery Monday morning. He suffered a fractured and dislocated ankle in Saturday’s game against Florida, head coach Kirby Smart said.

“He’s out for the year,” Smart said, likening it to previous injuries to running back James Cook and former wide receiver Riley Ridley. “He’s expected to make a full recovery. He’s in good spirits. He’s such a great kid.”

Rosemy-Jacksaint suffered the gruesome injury on the Bulldogs’ second drive in their 44-28 loss to Florida in Jacksonville. He hauled in a 32-yard touchdown for his first-career score, then went down immediately after contact with Florida defensive back Brad Stewart.

“It brought tears to my eyes,” receiver Kearis Jackson said. “I know how hard Marcus has worked. Ever since he stepped on campus, you saw what type of guy he is.”

Rosemy-Jacksaint was immediately transported on a cart and returned to the sidelines in the second half. He was spotted on a pair of crutches and in a hard cast.

“He said, ‘Coach, it’s part of the game. Injuries are part of the game and you understand that when you get into it,’” Smart recalled. “He was in a really good mindset. I know he’ll work really hard to get back and he was trying to help other guys on the sideline.”

Prior to his touchdown catch, the south Florida native had three receptions for 30 yards. He had received praise from his coaches and teammates, however, which would indicate an increased role might’ve been consistent.

Jackson gave his teammate the label of “complete receiver.” He saw Rosemy-Jacksaint perform well in every area asked of him — blocking, route-running and receiving.

Those qualities are why a devastating injury brought pain to the Bulldogs’ sideline. On the Thursday prior to the Florida game, Georgia pass catchers were talking about the freshman in the receivers room. They predicted his first-ever touchdown. They planned ways to celebrate it.

That celebration never happened.

“The change in energy was breathtaking,” Jackson said. “We knew how hard he worked, so an injury like that takes a toll on anybody.”

His injury gives Georgia another blow, especially with the absence of sophomore receiver George Pickens. The Bulldogs’ pass game has struggled, so no wide receiver has emerged for more than a flash of production. The leaders among the group, without Pickens, are Jackson and Jermaine Burton. When Rosemy-Jacksaint went out, however, former walk-on Jaylen Johnson saw meaningful snaps for Georgia.

It’s another hit to the team’s depth, but the disappointment for Rosemy-Jacksaint’s teammates is in the fact that the freshman started to find his groove.

Now, a recovery process begins.

“He’s a very humble young man. It’s very hard when those things happen,” Jackson said. “You control the things you can control, and I’m pretty sure he’s going to bounce back.”

Other UGA injury notes

The list of Georgia’s injuries that began with a decimating win at Kentucky makes Smart laugh. A reporter asked about the status of players and said “I don’t even know who else.”

“Kendall (Milton), Marcus (Rosemy-Jacksaint), Lewis (Cine)…,” Smart quipped, later being detailed in each diagnosis. “There are a lot of them. I’m trying to think of who else.”

An injury report has become a grocery list. A trip down each aisle, or position in this case, has an item to collect.

Smart’s updates on the ailments.

• Quarterback Stetson Bennett (right shoulder AC sprain): “He is going to find out (Monday) if he is going to be able to go out there and throw. It’s one of those deals that we don’t know how effective he’s going to be, whether he’s going to require another shot to do it.”

• Milton (MCL sprain): “Kendall will be out three to four weeks. It’s nothing permanent, but something we have to get him back from.”

• Running back Kenny McIntosh (knee/hamstring): “Kenny had about 85 or 90 percent of his full self by the end of the week. He’s had some tightness, but we feel like he’ll be able to go. We certainly need him.”

• Wide receiver George Pickens (upper body): “George boils down to more of a pain tolerance. He was able to practice last week, and some days without a no-contact jersey. It’s about whether he can handle it in his upper extremity. If he’s able to do that, he’ll be able to go.”

• Safety Lewis Cine (head, after collision with Florida tight end Kyle Pitts): “He is in concussion protocol, so we don’t know if he will be cleared for the week. It’ll depend on testing he has to go through.

• Defensive tackle Jordan Davis (elbow): “Jordan’s going to be week-to-week. We’re hopeful to get him back. We don’t know when that’s going to be.”

Along with those updates, safety Richard LeCounte won’t be returning any time soon and is recovering from a motorcycle accident. Georgia’s misfortune has seemed to come in bunches, and it couldn’t be predicted that a trip to Lexington to open close October would be costly.

Georgia will dig deep into its depth chart for the final four games of the season. With two losses, the original championship-contending goals are squashed. Now, it’ll be about playing time for a variety of players. Due to COVID-19, this season doesn’t count toward eligibility and redshirt rules are not in effect.

“We have a lot of injuries on both sides. The only thing we can do is push the guys around us, especially the younger guys,” receiver Kearis Jackson said. “We have to build confidence in them to get the job done. No person is too young to be out there on the field. There’s no such thing as that. If you play one snap, you’re old enough.”

This story was originally published November 9, 2020 at 12:09 PM.