Nick Chubb takes another positive step towards return

ATHENS — Nick Chubb’s last major test was going to be how he handled being tackled. So far, that appears to be going well.

While Georgia has yet to hold a full-fledged scrimmage – that’ll come Saturday – the team has done some tackling in practice, and Chubb has responded well, head coach Kirby Smart said after Wednesday’s practice.

“Nick’s been to the ground in several drills we’ve had out there. So that’s not a major concern of mine,” Smart said.

Chubb has practiced without limitations so far this preseason, and his appearance at a surprise media session was another sign he was on track to play in Georgia’s season opener. And probably as the starter.

But neither Chubb or Smart – or anyone else on the team – has said for sure that the star tailback will play. There are still several weeks of practice and three scrimmages to test his knee. Smart said he wasn’t sure yet “to what extent” Chubb will go in Saturday’s first scrimmage.

“We’ll have a certain number of reps we want Nick to get on Saturday, and whatever number that is we’ll determine on Friday,” Smart said.

Meanwhile, tailback Sony Michel remains a bit further behind, as expected. Michel broke his arm in early July, and has been carrying the ball in practices, but it sounds like it will still be awhile before he has no limitations.

“Sony’s big thing right now is conditioning, and rehabbing, and trying to improve his overall ability to sustain through practice,” Smart said.