Kirby Smart provides update on Brock Bowers injury

Georgia star tight end Brock Bowers was injured during the second quarter of a win over Vanderbilt on Saturday when he was tackled at the end of a reverse that he took for a 14-yard gain.

Bowers 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, according to coach Kirby Smart after the game, as relayed by Marc Weiszer of the Athens Banner-Herald.

UPDATE: On Monday morning, Georgia revealed that Bowers will undergo surgery and that a full recovery is expected. He will be sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, as Georgia enters a bye week during Week 8.

So far this season Bowers has accounted for 37 catches for 545 yards and four touchdowns. He’s also added four carries for seven yards and a touchdown.

His 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, Brock 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.

That all comes on the heels of a season that saw Bowers take home multiple awards. In 2022 he 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.

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.