Brenden Bates explains his Music City Bowl absence

Kentucky’s two-deep roster is a shell of its former self headed into Saturday’s Music City Bowl with several key absences on both sides of the ball. In some cases, players opted out to get healthy to chase their NFL dreams. In others, the transfer portal created early departures from Lexington. And in other others, some players are simply too injured to play after the grind of the regular season.

Senior tight end Brendan Bates is one of those injured players who are unavailable to play due to health reasons. One of the toughest S.O.B.’s on the entire roster, Bates put an end to any speculation about his absence by letting fans know of his post-season surgery on an injury he suffered before the 2022 season even began.

Turns out, Bates played in 11 of 12 games with a torn labrum suffered in preseason camp, which reminds me of his “camp” Instagram caption and comments back in August.

Brenden Bates, confirmed Football Guy. @BatesBrenden

"Camp." 🩸 pic.twitter.com/sIxyICVPjF

— Drew Franklin (@DrewFranklinKSR) August 9, 2022

Today, after Kentucky released its Music City Bowl depth chart without Bates on it, the fifth-year Wildcat said publicly that he is two weeks removed from surgery on a torn labrum, thus unavailable to participate in Saturday’s game.

He will, however, be in Nashville and on the sideline in support of his teammates.

“Been hearing a lot of questions and want to give y’all an update,” Bates tweeted Monday afternoon. “Fall camp I tore my labrum. I played till I couldn’t and got surgery December 9th. Surgery went great and I’m currently 2weeks post OP. I will be at the bowl game supporting my team.”

Hey BBN , been hearing a lot of questions and want to give y’all an update. Fall camp I tore my labrum. I played till I couldn’t and got surgery December 9th. Surgery went great and I’m currently 2weeks post OP. I will be at the bowl game supporting my team. #BBN pic.twitter.com/eFj5zz9oOF

— Brenden Bates (@BatesBrenden) December 26, 2022

Kentucky will also be without tight end Josh Kattus in Nashville (likely due to injury), leaving the Dingle brothers and Izayah Cummings to carry the tight end load against one of our nation’s best defenses. Keaton Upshaw left the program following the Governor’s Cup for a new home at Georgia Southern.