ATHENS — Tim Kimbrough’s status with the Georgia football team was in doubt on Wednesday, after head coach Kirby Smart referred to the linebacker being on a “leave of absence,” and the player followed up with tweets regarding a “hard decision” he had made.

Kimbrough, a senior inside linebacker, was not at practice on Wednesday, for reasons Smart did not disclose.

“Tim’s got a little leave of absence right now,” Smart said. “That’s really all I can say about that.”

Kimbrough later posted four tweets that alluded to the “hard decision” but did not expressly say what it was.

Sometime in Life you will have to make a hard decision even if you don’t want to make it.. You just had to do it — Tim Kimbrough Jr.™ (@TK42_GTL) August 10, 2016

I didn’t want to do it.. Believe me — Tim Kimbrough Jr.™ (@TK42_GTL) August 10, 2016

I Love the UGA Fans! I do everything for y’all — Tim Kimbrough Jr.™ (@TK42_GTL) August 10, 2016

It was a family decision — Tim Kimbrough Jr.™ (@TK42_GTL) August 10, 2016

Kimbrough started seven games last year, then missed the Taxslayer Bowl last season because of a suspension, which was also for undisclosed reasons. But this past spring Smart said Kimbrough was back on the team and in good standing.

Kimbrough, who is Georgia’s leading returning tackler, has been working with the second team inside linebackers, behind junior Reggie Carter and sophomore Natrez Patrick. Sophomore Roquan Smith has been getting first-team snaps on Tuesday, ahead of Kimbrough, with Patrick limited in practice.