Georgia TE Brock Bowers Facing Surgery: What It Means for Florida
Photo: Brock Bowers; Credit: Alex Shepherd
Georgia All-American junior tight end Brock Bowers will undergo surgery to treat a high left ankle sprain suffered against Vanderbilt in Week 7, the program said in a release on Monday.
Although a full recovery is expected, per the statement, a timeline for Bowers' return to play was not made clear, placing his status for Georgia's looming matchup with Florida in question if not in doubt.
Reports have surfaced suggesting Bowers could be out of action for four-to-six weeks.
The Gators (5-2, 3-1 SEC) will "host" the Bulldogs (7-0, 4-0 SEC) in the neutral site rivalry matchup at 3:30 p.m. ET on Oct. 28, with each team making its annual trip to Jacksonville, Fla. following Week 8 byes.
Bowers, the reigning winner of the John Mackey Award — presented to the nation's top-rated tight end — got off to another hot start in 2023 with 41 receptions for 547 yards and four touchdowns in just over six games, pacing the No. 1 Bulldogs in each category.
In under three seasons of play, having made his presence in the Georgia offense known as a freshman in 2021, Bowers has accumulated 160 catches for 2,391 yards and 24 touchdowns. He's also scored five times on the ground.
Georgia's passing offense, led by quarterback Carson Beck, remains threatening without its No. 1 playmaker. But it would undoubtedly be impacted negatively should the surgery prevent Bowers from playing against Florida and in further matchups.
Sophomore Oscar Delp, a top target of the Gators' former coaching staff in the recruiting class of 2022, would be expected to start at tight end for the Bulldogs should Bowers be unavailable in Week 9.
After a relatively quiet freshman campaign behind Bowers and now-NFL tight end Darnell Washington, Delp has emerged in 2023 with 13 grabs for 160 yards and two touchdowns within a rotational role.
Wide receivers, senior Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint and juniors Dominic Lovett and Rara Thomas, lead Georgia wide receivers in receptions this year with 31, 18 and 16 apiece, respectively.
Complementing Bowers, the trio has scored four receiving touchdowns. Potentially without their star tight end, each receiver could absorb additional targets against the Gators' defense in Week 9.
Although the Bulldogs are comfortable at running back with Daijun Edwards in charge of the backfield, senior Kendall Milton aggravated an MCL sprain in Week 7 by getting hit in the knee, per UGA head coach Kirby Smart. Milton's status for Georgia's matchup with Florida is also uncertain at this time.
Also injured at offensive tackles, junior Amarius Mims (ankle) and senior Xavier Truss (ankle). Truss moved to right tackle following Mims' injury in Week 3, and freshman Monroe Freeling — another former recruiting target of Florida's, from the class of 2023 — stepped in for Truss in Week 7.
It is unknown if Truss will miss any time due to the hurt, a sprain.
Bulldogs wide receiver Ladd McConkey has been limited by a back injury since the beginning of the season, although he logged a season-high 39 snaps against Vanderbilt.
Though Florida is freshly removed from a confidence-rebooting victory over South Carolina in Week 7, the Gators can use all the help they can get in preparation for their biggest game of the year against the top-ranked Bulldogs next Saturday.
A potentially significantly limited Georgia offense would almost certainly aid Florida's defense in the Gators' effort to upset its SEC east foe and one of the favorites to win the College Football National Championship. Even if only Bowers is to miss the game, much would change relative to the Bulldogs' offensive operation.
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