Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers suffered an ankle injury in Georgia’s Week 7 clash against Vanderbilt. Bowers was hurt in the first half of that game and hasn’t returned to the field since.
When will Bowers be back on the field?
How Long Will Brock Bowers Be Out?
According to Georgia head coach Kirby Smart, Bowers underwent tightrope surgery on his ankle. This is meant to stabilize the soft tissues in the ankle and keep them flexible. Early versions of this in athletics meant having two metal screws inserted, which would require a second surgery later on.
This newer form of surgery allows for the soft tissues to heal quicker and removes the need for a second surgery. According to the Orthopedic Foot & Ankle Center, this allows rehab to begin significantly faster, and return to play may happen as soon as 4-6 weeks. Many might remember when Tua Tagovailoa had a similar surgery before the 2018 CFP game against Oklahoma, where he returned to play in 28 days.
ESPN’s Pete Thamel further confirmed this timeline. This timeline meant this injury could knock Bowers out for the remainder of Georgia’s regular season. Keeping Bowers healthy will be a key part of Georgia’s run for a third-straight national championship, so Georgia will likely hold him out as long as necessary to avoid further exacerbation.
Smart has not put a timetable on Bowers’ return to game action as of this time, opting to let the medicals sort themselves out. While Bowers is a significant part of this team, Georgia has proven they can win without him and thus can afford to not rush him back too soon.
UPDATE: Bowers was seen on the field warming up prior to Georgia’s Week 11 matchup against Ole Miss. His status for the contest against the Rebels is still uncertain, though his pregame warm-ups mean — at the very least — that he’s likely walking through game situations to see how his ankle feels.
CFN will monitor Bowers’ status ahead of the game against Ole Miss.
Can Georgia Keep Winning Without Bowers?
Despite not having Bowers, Georgia finished off Vanderbilt 37-20 and then knocked off rival Florida 43-20 in its next game. Georgia still racked up almost 500 yards of offense on Florida even without Bowers playing in that game.
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The Bulldogs have Missouri, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Georgia Tech remaining on their schedule. Three of those teams are ranked in the top 20 in the college football playoff rankings, while Georgia Tech has already pulled off upsets over Miami (FL) and North Carolina.
Bowers still leads the Georgia team in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns. Bowers ranks third on Pro Football Network’s 2024 NFL Draft big board.
With him out, Georgia has turned to Oscar Delp, who was the No. 1 tight end recruit in the 2022 recruiting class. Delp has stepped up and has 15 receptions for 191 yards and two touchdowns, including a savvy one-handed snag in the Florida game.