ATLANTA — Georgia football’s Carson Beck suffered an upper leg injury in Saturday’s SEC Championship Game vs. Texas, according to coach Kirby Smart.
The injury occurred at the end of the first half of a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in which the Bulldogs defeated Texas 22-19 in overtime. After the play, more than half a dozen staff members swarmed the field as he lay on the grass.
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This play resulted in a sack by Texas’ Trey Moore. Beck fumbled the ball, the ball went wild, and the ball ended up hitting offensive lineman Dylan Fairchild.
The location and severity of the injuries were not disclosed by Smart. Upper extremities refer to fingers, hands, arms, shoulders, and elbows. Beck was seen on television during the third quarter applying ice to his elbow.
Smart said Beck couldn’t even hold the ball, let alone throw it, when he was checked out in the locker room at halftime.
“It was a little painful for him,” Smart said. “We need to know exactly what’s going on.”
Beck is expected to undergo an MRI scan as early as Sunday for diagnosis.
Beck, who will be his last SEC Championship Game as a senior and if he decides to qualify for the 2024 NFL Draft, returned to replace backup Gunner Stockton on the final play of the game. He handed off the winning touchdown to running back Trevor Etienne. .
Smart said Beck only did that because offensive coordinator Mike Bobo made quick decisions and made good plays. Stockton had his helmet blown off on the previous play and had to leave the field.
A similar incident occurred at Georgia State earlier in the season, when a player’s helmet was blown off after an opposing player appeared to target him. Officials involved in the play said the player could remain if the call was targeted.
When it happened in Stockton, that memory immediately came to Smart’s mind. However, this time it was not targeted.
“I watched the play and realized he was leading with his shoulder. We had to take the snap with another quarterback,” Smart said. “We were ready to throw in (third-stringer) Ryan Puglisi. He knows the system, he knows what to do, but we felt… Carson could snap. That’s why he did it.”
Georgia (11-2) advances to the College Football Playoff. The rankings will be decided on Sunday when the selection committee releases the final rankings.
