Brock Bowers, a top college football prospect and All-America tight end from Georgia, is set to have surgery for a high-ankle injury he sustained during the Bulldogs’ victory over Vanderbilt on Saturday. He is anticipated to be out of action for a while.
The school released a statement announcing that Bowers is scheduled for surgery on Monday, with expectations of a full recovery. However, it remains uncertain when Bowers might be able to return.
Bowers is expected to undergo “tightrope” surgery, which is a newer method that has been adopted as a better way of strengthening the ligaments connecting the fibula to the tibia. Several athletes, such as Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa when he was at Alabama, have had the procedure in recent years with strong results, including shorter recovery times.
Bowers sustained the injury while seemingly struggling for additional yardage after a catch against the Commodores. His ankle was twisted uncomfortably during a tackle. After the game, in which Bowers was absent for the remainder, he was seen wearing a walking boot.
This weekend, top-ranked Georgia is on a bye. They will return to the field facing a series of challenging games, including matches against No. 20 Missouri, No. 13 Ole Miss, and No. 17 Tennessee. The tough stretch is punctuated by games against their rivals, Florida and Georgia Tech.
Bowers, a genuine junior, has stood out as one of the top tight ends in college football for the past three seasons. This year, he emerged as the primary target for quarterback Carson Beck, having caught 41 passes for 567 yards and four touchdowns to date. Before the Vanderbilt game, Bowers had a streak of three consecutive 100-yard games, which included a standout performance against Auburn where he caught the game-winning touchdown and made 157 yards. However, he had to exit Saturday’s game after making only four catches for 22 yards.
Bowers has been instrumental in helping Georgia begin the season with a 7-0 record and achieve a No. 1 national ranking. He also played a significant role in the Bulldogs’ consecutive national titles. In his freshman year in 2021, Bowers recorded 56 receptions for 882 yards and 13 touchdowns. He followed that up with 63 catches for 942 yards and seven touchdowns in his sophomore year in 2022.
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah broke down Bowers’ tape over the summer and compared him to the San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle in terms of style and potential impact at the next level.
