Huge setback as Georgia Bulldogs Guard suffer season ending with Ankle injury

Georgia Bulldogs’ standout offensive guard, Tate Ratledge, has been sidelined due to a sprained left ankle that required TightRope surgery.

The procedure, performed on Monday, is expected to keep Ratledge out for several games, as confirmed by head coach Kirby Smart.

Ratledge sustained the injury during the second quarter of Georgia’s hard-fought 13-12 win against Kentucky on Saturday.

Typically, recovery from this kind of surgery takes around four to six weeks, making his absence significant for the Bulldogs.

Despite the unfortunate injury to Ratledge, there was more optimistic news surrounding the Bulldogs’ starting quarterback, Carson Beck.

Beck, who suffered a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder during the game against Kentucky, is not expected to miss any upcoming games.

Coach Smart downplayed the severity of the injury, explaining that multiple players on the team had similar sprains without long-term consequences.

Beck has already returned to practice and is continuing his preparations for the upcoming games.

Georgia is entering a bye week, which provides a brief respite before they head to Alabama to face the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide on September 28.

Following that, the Bulldogs will play at home against Auburn and Mississippi State before traveling to Texas for a major showdown on October 19. The team’s ability to bounce back from these injuries will be critical as they prepare for these high-stakes matchups.

Tate Ratledge, a 6-foot-6, 320-pound senior, has been an integral part of Georgia’s offensive line. He has started 31 games during his college career, including all three games this season. His impressive performances earned him second-team All-American honors and first-team All-SEC recognition last year. Ratledge had even been projected as one of the top interior offensive linemen eligible for the 2025 NFL draft, according to ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.

In Ratledge’s absence, Georgia’s offensive line will rely on juniors Micah Morris and Dylan Fairchild to fill the guard positions. While the team is optimistic about Ratledge’s recovery, the Bulldogs have a history of quick recoveries from similar surgeries. For example, tight end Brock Bowers returned in just 26 days after undergoing TightRope surgery last season. However, players like offensive tackle Amarius Mims and tight end Lawson Luckie experienced longer recovery times, making it clear that the recovery timeline can vary from player to player.