The Georgia Bulldogs were locked in a dog fight with the Texas Longhorns in the SEC Championship Game. Struggling to gain any momentum in the closing moments of the second quarter, Georgia QB Carson Beck attempted a Hail Mary pass that nearly ended in disaster for the Bulldogs.
To make matters worse, Beck appeared visibly shaken after the play and headed into the halftime break with his status for the College Football Playoffs in question. And now, following an unusual diagnosis, his NFL Draft stock may have taken a hit.
What Happened to Carson Beck?
Beck was injured when he took an awkward hit on a Hail Mary attempt and fumbled the football on the last play of the second quarter.
Beck lay on the ground for a bit of time after he had to cower up and cover himself from the array of defenders attempting to get the ball. The replay of the injury showed his entire throwing arm being bent backwards in an odd way.
Carson Beck took a big shot there pic.twitter.com/23lj7W4qKF
— Mr Matthew CFB (@MrMatthew_CFB) December 7, 2024
He eventually returned to his feet and trotted off the field into the locker room at the halftime break. However, it was clear that he was holding his shoulder and right arm a bit gingerly.
When asked about it at the halftime break, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart had this to say.
“His hand got hit as he was throwing it there,” Smart said to Holly Rowe. “We’ll see (if he can play in the second half), we gotta go in there and look at it.”
Beck emerged from the halftime break with his uniform on, holding his helmet, as it was announced he wouldn’t re-enter the game. Gunner Stockton entered and ultimately led the Bulldogs back in regulation, forcing overtime for the first time in SEC Championship Game history.
However, Beck’s day was not done as it had been previously announced. Following a vicious hit on Stockton, the Bulldogs were left without a quarterback.
I think the initial targeting call made everyone forget about it, but we should probably talk more about Gunner Stockton taking this hit and still holding onto the ball. If he doesn’t hold onto it chances are high that the game ends right herepic.twitter.com/x5Q8z8TRkZ
— Graham Coffey (@GrahamCoffeyDC) December 8, 2024
Beck had to enter the game once again, and it was clear how injured he truly was. Despite not being able to ‘grip the ball’ properly, Beck was able to hand the ball off on the game-winning touchdown run from Trevor Etienne, and the Bulldogs won the SEC.
However, the updates following the game have not been as promising.
Carson Beck’s NFL Draft Status In the Air Following Injury
It was announced on Monday that Beck and his family were “exploring treatment options” following an MRI. Beck said he hopes to return to play in 2025, but head coach Smart said the elbow area is what they’re concerned about with his QB.
“The elbow area is what we understand it to be, I didn’t know walking off the field, I wasn’t sure,” Smart said. “It looked like it could be shoulder, like it could be wrist. It actually looked like the contact was to the wrist/forearm area, but the strain was around the elbow.”
And now, following that MRI and treatment options they’re exploring, it’s not just his status for the playoffs that are put into question. With similarities to Brock Purdy’s elbow injury that required surgery, the hope is that Beck has avoided an injury to his ulnar collateral ligament as Purdy had torn.
As promising as it sounds that they’re exploring treatment options may be, the statement released from Smart gave a different kind of sentiment.
“Carson and Brett (Thorson) are both fierce competitors and extremely hard workers,” Smart’s statement said. “I’m confident they will attack their rehab with the same determination they exhibit in their daily habits.”
“We will be here to support them every step of the way.”
If Beck has any sort of structural damage, the rehab time is in the months, per Purdy’s timeline, thus hindering his pre-draft process. Beck will hope he’s clear of any long-term issues with the elbow, but in particular, hope there is no surgery needed as that would put his 2025 NFL Draft prospects very much in jeopardy.
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