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Tate Ratledge injury update: Kirby Smart on updated timeline

Grant Grubbs Profile Pictureby:Grant Grubbs•10/13/24•

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Tony Walsh / UGA Sports Communications

In Georgia‘s Week 3 win over Kentucky, Bulldogs offensive lineman Tate Ratledge suffered a left ankle injury, which required tightrope surgery. After Georgia’s 41-31 victory over Mississippi State on Saturday, UGA head coach Kirby Smart provided an update on Ratledge’s recovery.

“He’s much closer,” Smart said. “He’s running. He’s on dry land running, pushing it. He’s got a custom-made brace. We keep hoping he gets better.”

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Tightrope surgery typically has a recovery period of four to six weeks. Entering Week 8, Ratledge should be nearing a return. Georgia will be ecstatic to reinsert Ratledge among its ranks.

The 6-foot-6, 320-pound lineman is one of Georgia’s most experienced players upfront, boasting 31 career starts, including three this season. For his efforts in the 2023 campaign, Tate Ratledge was named a second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection.

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Prior to Ratledge’s injury, ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. named him the No. 4 interior offensive line prospect eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft. Facing off against Texas next, Georgia will hope to return Ratledge as soon as possible.

Michael Van Buren reacts to incident with Kirby Smart

Late in the Georgia Bulldogs‘ win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs, quarterback Michael Van Buren went out of bounds along the Georgia sidelines and caught opposing head coach Kirby Smart apparently running into and shoving him.

Following the game, Van Buren shared his reaction to the incident, explaining that he wasn’t focused on it in the moment.

“I’m not sure what that was,” Michael Van Buren said. “I was just trying to play my game. I didn’t really see it.”

On the play, it appeared that Kirby Smart was running over to argue with an official. The initial contact also did appear to be incidental, with Van Buren looking to return to the field while Smart ran up the sideline. However, the broadcast did appear to catch Smart shoving him once the two were next to one another. There was no flag on the play.

The incident didn’t escalate from there, with Van Buren not retaliating in any noticeable way, showing his maturity despite being just a true freshman.

On3’s Dan Morrison also contributed to this article.