ATHENS — When Kirby Smart was asked Saturday night about Jacob Eason’s status, Georgia’s coach began by saying he was thinking of his quarterback and his family, saying he knew them well and knew they were concerned. That may have sounded foreboding, but then Smart reiterated that it may not be a long-term injury.
“He’s got a sprained knee. So right now we don’t know the extent past that,” Smart said. “We don’t know how long. We’ll know a lot more tomorrow. But I hate it for Jacob, because he had a really good camp, and has worked really hard. But we don’t know how long it’ll be.
Smart would not discuss Eason’s availability for the Notre Dame game next Saturday.
“Right now that’s the biggest concern. Jacob’s health is the biggest concern,” Smart said.
Eason was injured in the first quarter of Georgia’s 31-10 win over Appalachian State, running out of bounds on a scramble. He was hit late, resulting in a penalty and a first down, Georgia’s first of the game.
Fromm entered and led the Bulldogs on three touchdown drives in the first half, and then kept it going in the fourth quarter.
“He played in the scrimmages just like he played out there,” Smart said of Fromm. “He knows how to manage the game really well. He got some tempo things going there when we were able to hit some plays, and it gave him a little juice and momentum.”
Smart also complimented offensive coordinator Jim Chaney’s adjustment when Fromm came in.
“That’s what you do, you have to have a plan for each quarterback,” Smart said. “That kid took reps all week, just like every No. 2 quarterback does. He was prepared to play.”
Fromm finished the game 10 of 15 for 143 yards, with 1 touchdown and no interceptions. Eason was 1 of 3 for 4 yards before he left.
While Georgia’s offense got going once Fromm went in, Smart said much of that was because they were able to get some momentum after finally getting some first downs.
“Give the credit, he did a good job. But we never got a rhythm going, we didn’t get to go. It wasn’t like we were going tempo with Jake Fromm and not with Jacob, we just couldn’t get it going early, which sometimes is tough against a really good defense,” Smart said. “Then once we got it going, I told him, once we hit one we’re going to go, get the cumulative effect, and wear them down. We got a little tempo going, and it juiced it up.”