Carson Beck injury update: Kirby Smart provides latest on Georgia QB's status for College Football Playoff

Georgia coach Kirby Smart confirmed Carson Beck is considering his options regarding his elbow injury. His status is in question for the College Football Playoff, and On3’s Pete Nakos first reported he will likely miss the quarterfinals in the Sugar Bowl.

Beck suffered the injury late in the first half of the SEC Championship against Texas. He went to heave one final Hail Mary before halftime, but got hit as he threw. Nakos reported it was a UCL injury, and the sense is Beck will not be able to play in the Sugar Bowl.

ESPN later reported Beck’s status is in question for the entire CFP. Smart, however, didn’t get into specifics about whether he’ll have his starting quarterback. He said UGA is “hoping for the best.”

“He and his family have been in Jacksonville with his team, his staff and really, group of people in his family, trying to pursue the best options to go forward,” Smart said on ESPN College GameDay. “But we’ve talked to him, we’ve communicated with him. We’re hoping for the best.”

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,” 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.