Georgia announces tight end Brock Bowers to have surgery Monday on injured ankle

The Georgia Bulldogs have announced star tight end Brock Bowers will have surgery on Monday, following suffering an ankle injury during the second quarter of their Week 6 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday.

“Georgia will be without its top offensive weapon at least a few weeks and maybe more. UGA has announced that tight end Brock Bowers will undergo tight-rope surgery on Monday on his left ankle. A full recovery is expected,” wrote Jake Rowe of DawgsHQ. “The surgery is meant to speed up the healing process from a high ankle sprain, which is the injury Bowers sustained on Saturday in the Bulldogs’ 37-20 win over Vanderbilt.”

While the Bulldogs were aiming for victory over the Commodores, Bowers was tackled at the end of a reverse that he took for a 14-yard gain. He was shaken up immediately, and briefly attempted to walk it off on the field before going down and motioning for trainers to come over.

The Georgia star then headed to the team’s injury tent with some light assistance before heading into the locker room. He went from the locker room to an alternate location while the game continued, seeking X-rays on his left foot.

Those X-rays were negative, Kirby Smart delineated to the media after the game, as relayed by Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

For Georgia’s sake, the Bulldogs are hoping Brock Bowers will be back to his old self in no time. Regardless, the team is much better with him in the fold than without him, and they’ll be needing his services if they’re to complete their attempt at a three-peat.

The Bulldogs will enjoy a bye week at least this weekend, and return to the field for a showdown with the Florida Gators on Oct. 28.

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Moreover, Brock Bowers has accounted for 37 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns so far this season for the Bulldogs. He’s also added four carries for seven yards and a touchdown.

An extended absence would be significant for a Georgia offense that has relied on him to make key plays in the biggest moments.

After a relatively slow start to the first half of the season, Bowers had turned it on in the last three weeks. He had recorded at least seven catches and 120 yards in each of the last three contests, scoring at least once in each of them.

He had even begun to earn more Heisman Trophy consideration from the likes of On3’s experts, as well as others nationally.

Additionally, his success in 2023 all comes on the heels of a season that saw Bowers take home multiple awards. In 2022, the tight end was named a first-team All-American by the FWAA, ESPN, USA Today and AFCA, while he was named second-team by Walter Camp, The Athletic, CBS, the Associated Press and Sporting News.

Brock Bowers finished his sophomore season with 63 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns, while also adding nine carries for 109 yards and three touchdowns.