Carson Beck injury: Major update emerges on elbow, status for College Football Playoff

Carson Beck is set to miss the College Football Playoff quarterfinals, as On3’s Pete Nakos first reported. The question for the Georgia quarterback is whether he’ll be able to suit up at all in the postseason after suffering an elbow injury, and it sounds like surgery could be on the table.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Mark Schlabach and Chris Low reported Beck is “exploring surgery options” after suffering the injury in the SEC Championship. He went to throw up one final prayer before halftime against Texas, but got hit as he threw. Gunner Stockton took over the rest of the way and is expected to get the start in the CFP quarterfinals.

Nakos reported a timetable for Beck’s return is still unclear as he works through his next steps. He also hasn’t been with the Bulldogs since they returned to practice last week.

Despite coming in to deliver the game-sealing handoff to Trevor Etienne, Beck reportedly had trouble gripping the football. Stockton came in to start the second half and completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards to help keep Georgia in front en route to the 22-19 victory. That sealed a bye for the Bulldogs to the Sugar Bowl, giving Beck that much more time to try and work his way back.

In his second year as the starter, Carson Beck threw for 3,485 yards and set a new career-high with 28 touchdowns to help lead Georgia back to the College Football Playoff. However, he struggled with ball security, throwing 12 interceptions. But over his last four games, he didn’t throw a single pick.

“Tough deal for him in terms of not being able to go out there and finish in the second half,” Georgia head coach Kirby Smart previously said. “He’s also excited for his teammates and happy that it ended the way it did and ironically he got to be on the field for that.”

Pete Nakos contributed to this report.