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Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior Writer
Georgia All-American tight end Brock Bowers is undergoing surgery for his left ankle injury, as confirmed by the school.
Bowers, ranked as the No. 4 NFL draft prospect in ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest Big Board, suffered a high ankle sprain during the first half of the No. 1 Bulldogs’ 37-20 win against Vanderbilt on Saturday and was unable to return.
Although a complete recovery is expected, the precise timeline for Bowers’ return remains uncertain. Sources suggest that he will undergo TightRope surgery, a procedure utilizing surgical thread instead of metal screws, which aims to expedite the recovery process.
The typical recovery time for TightRope surgery ranges from four to six weeks.
Bowers is the third Georgia player to undergo this procedure during the current season. Amarius Mims, the starting right tackle and a preseason All-SEC selection, had the surgery in mid-September for a high ankle sprain and has yet to return. Tight end Lawson Luckie had the procedure in mid-August and recently made his comeback.
In 2018, Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa underwent this surgery and was sidelined for a month. Cedric Tillman, a wide receiver for Tennessee, had the same surgery last year and missed four games.
Bowers, a junior from Napa, California, was assisted off the field by trainers with 7:24 remaining in the second quarter. After being taken to the medical tent and receiving X-rays in the locker room, he was unable to continue playing against Vanderbilt. Bowers had recorded 4 catches for 22 yards prior to his exit.
This season, Bowers has been the focal point of Georgia’s offense, accumulating team-leading stats of 41 catches for 567 yards and four touchdowns. He has surpassed 100 receiving yards in each of the past three games.
In the absence of Bowers, Georgia will rely on sophomore Oscar Delp (13 receptions, 160 yards, two touchdowns), as well as freshmen Pearce Spurlin III (two catches, 29 yards) and Luckie.
Despite Bowers’ uncertain timeframe for recovery, Caesars Sportsbook maintains Georgia as the favorite to win the College Football Playoff at +280, with Michigan trailing closely at +300. DraftKings and FanDuel also consider Michigan and Georgia as co-favorites.
After an open date this week, Georgia is about to face tough opponents, starting with a game against rival Florida in Jacksonville on Oct. 28. This is followed by home games against No. 20 Missouri on Nov. 4 and No. 13 Ole Miss the following week, before visiting No. 17 Tennessee on Nov. 18.
ESPN’s David Purdum contributed to this report.
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