Brock Bowers injury update: Georgia HC Kirby Smart provides latest on availability for CFB Week 9

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers is one of college football's most talented prospects and a projected first-round pick for the 2024 NFL draft.

He left the Week 7 game against the Vanderbilt Commodores with an apparent ankle sprain that worried Georgia fans just as the team approaches the business end of the season.

After an open week for Georgia, what's Bowers' injury status for the Bulldogs' rivalry game against the Florida Gators?

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Brock Bowers injury update

Brock Bowers had tightrope surgery performed on him this past week, which will rule him out for a couple of weeks.

During Wednesday's coaches teleconference, Georgia coach Kirby Smart played his cards close to his chest regarding the status of Brock Bowers for the Oct. 28 game against Florida in Jacksonville.

“We’ll make the decision based on who is traveling, how many we can travel, what our numbers look like at each position,” Smart said. “We have some decisions to make on all that. We don’t want to make that decision right now.”

When asked about the timeline of the tight end's return, Smart was again vague with his answer.

"You really think I'm going to answer that question?" Smart said. "I mean, is that all this is about? All y'all want to talk about is if he is going to be back or not. Like that is the furthest thing from my concern right now. My concern is this team and getting Brock Bowers healthy. To answer that question is speculative, and I'm not going to speculate."

“I’m not going to focus on that right now. I think that’s all speculation,” Smart added. “The most important thing right now is our guys and getting ready for Florida.”

The Mackey Award winner from last season will miss his first game in three years as a Georgia player, showing his incredible staying power over the years.

Florida coach Billy Napier answered questions about Bowers' absence when the teams clash in Week 9 of the college football season.

“He made them really hard to defend,” Napier said. “I think, ultimately, the matchups just change. I think these are probably questions more for them than they are for me. We’ll prepare for the personnel that we’ve been watching.”

On five receptions last season against Florida, Bowers had 154 yards and a touchdown, and the Gators will be relieved that he won't be around to trouble them this season.

Saturday's clash will also be the first game the Georgia Bulldogs will have to play without their influential star, and fans will be looking to see how their team copes.