Georgia’s Smart: No timeline on Bowers’ return

• Mark Schlabach, ESPN Senior WriterOct 17, 2023, 08:19 PM ET

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  • Author of seven books on college football
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Georgia coach Kirby Smart wouldn’t offer a timeline Tuesday on Brock Bowers’ possible return to the field after the All-American tight end went through surgery on his left ankle a day earlier.Smart, speaking with press reporters after practice in Athens, Georgia, stated his only issue is getting Bowers healthy after he had TightRope surgery to fix a high ankle sprain. The treatment includes using surgical thread rather of metal screws and is created to speed up healing.

“You truly believe I’m going to answer that question?” Smart said when asked when Bowers may return. “I mean, is that all this has to do with? All y’ all want to speak about is if he is going to be back or not. Like that is the outermost thing from my concern right now. My issue is this team and getting Brock Bowers healthy. To address that concern is speculative, and I’m not going to hypothesize.”

Dr. Norman Waldrop III carried out the surgery at Andrews Sports Medication in Birmingham, Alabama.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Bowers was beginning his healing

Tuesday, and Smart stated UGA director of sports medication Ron Courson will work with Waldrop to plan Bowers ‘rehab. The typical healing time for a TightRope surgery is 4 to six weeks, although some players have returned sooner and others later.Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had the surgery while at Alabama in 2018 and was out for a month; Tide offensive tackle Camera Robinson missed out on about 2 weeks after having the treatment in 2014. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman had the surgical treatment while at Tennessee in 2015 and missed 4 games. “Philosophically, to get healthy, you need to get back moving that ankle as soon as you can, suggesting get on it, get weight bearing and walk around, “Smart stated. “We’ve had guys going through this procedure, so Brock will take on that exact same rehab procedure. His cosmetic surgeon and Ron will interact on that, and it won’t be done any various. The secret is that we are trying to get him back healthy.”There is no timeline for when he returns to play. The timeline is when he’s healthy, and I do not believe you can put a timeline on it because historically there have actually been guys that returned really fast and there have actually been guys that came back really sluggish. Every one has actually been various.”Smart said Bowers wanted to get the treatment done instead of waiting on the hurt ankle to recover by itself. He was injured in the very first half of the No. 1 Bulldogs ’37-20 success at Vanderbilt on Saturday.”Brock Bowers is excellent,” Smart stated.”Brock Bowers is rock strong. He wished to get the thing done as soon as he found out it needed to be done. We had the ability to accelerate that procedure.

He’s looking everybody in the eye today and wanting he might be out there. He remains in excellent spirits. He’s got a fantastic household. He’s got a fantastic heart and he’s a warrior, so he’ll manage it the right way.”Bowers, the No. 4 prospect on ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr.’s newest Big Board, has been the focal point of Georgia’s offense this season. He leads the group with 41 catches for 567 backyards and has 4 goals. He had more than 100 getting lawns in 3 straight games before he was harmed versus the Commodores.The Bulldogs, the two-time defending national champs, have an open date this coming weekend before playing rival Florida in Jacksonville, Florida, on Oct. 28. Then they face 3 straight games versus ranked opponents: No. 20 Missouri and No. 13 Ole Miss in your home and No. 17 Tennessee on the road.Getting Bowers back as quickly as possible would assist Georgia’s chances of contending for another SEC championship and possibly a spot in the College Football Playoff. Sophomore Oscar Delp( 13 receptions for 160 lawns with two touchdowns )and freshmen Pearce Spurlin III (2 catches for 29 backyards)and Lawson Luckie are expected to play tight end in his lack.”I understand Brock is a hard worker, and he is available in and works his tail off every day, so he’s going to attack this like he assaults whatever,”receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint stated.