Photograph of Georgia tight end Brock Bowers kneeling on the field following an injury during the first half of an NCAA college football matchup against Vanderbilt on Saturday, October 14, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo credit: George Walker IV / Associated Press)
Georgia’s standout tight end, Brock Bowers, is set to have surgery on his left ankle following an injury during their recent game, as announced by the school.
Bowers’ Ankle Injury
Bowers, highly regarded as a top NFL draft prospect, suffered a high ankle sprain during the first half of Georgia’s 37-20 win against Vanderbilt last Saturday, and he had to leave the game.
Georgia expects Bowers to recover fully, but the exact timeline for his return remains uncertain. Sources suggest that he will undergo a procedure called TightRope surgery, which uses special threads instead of metal screws to speed up recovery. Typically, recovery from this surgery takes four to six weeks.
Bowers is the third Georgia player to undergo this procedure this season. Starting right tackle Amarius Mims had the surgery in September and has yet to return to play, while tight end Lawson Luckie had the procedure in August and has recently returned to action.
In the past, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had this surgery in 2018 at Alabama and was out for a month. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman had it last year at Tennessee and missed four games.
Bowers, a junior from Napa, California, left the field with the help of trainers with 7:24 remaining in the second quarter. He received X-rays in the locker room after the initial examination in the medical tent. He had made 4 catches for 22 yards before his departure against Vanderbilt.
Bowers’ Impact on Georgia’s Offense
Bowers has been a crucial part of Georgia’s offense this season, leading the team with 41 catches for 567 yards and four touchdowns. He recorded over 100 receiving yards in each of the last three games.
With Bowers unavailable, Georgia will rely on sophomore Oscar Delp, who has 13 receptions for 160 yards and two touchdowns, along with freshmen Pearce Spurlin III (two catches for 29 yards) and Luckie.
Despite Bowers’ absence for an unspecified period, Caesars Sportsbook still considers Georgia the favorite to win the College Football Playoff at +280, with Michigan close behind at +300. At DraftKings and FanDuel, Michigan and Georgia are listed as co-favorites.
Upcoming Challenges for Georgia
Georgia is entering a challenging part of its schedule after an open date this week, starting with a matchup against rival Florida on October 28. They’ll have home games against No. 20 Missouri on November 4 and No. 13 Ole Miss the following week, followed by a visit to No. 17 Tennessee on November 18.
This report used information from ESPN.
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