Georgia Bulldogs' Tate Ratledge Undergoes Ankle Surgery, Faces Extended Recovery

Georgia Bulldogs' All-American guard Tate Ratledge has undergone TightRope surgery on his sprained left ankle, an injury he sustained during the team's 13-12 victory over Kentucky. The surgery, performed on Monday, is expected to keep Ratledge out for a handful of games, with a typical recovery period ranging from four to six weeks.

Ratledge, a senior from Rome, Georgia, also suffered an MCL sprain in the same game. Despite the injuries, Coach Kirby Smart remains optimistic about Ratledge's return, stating that he will be back as soon as possible and is expected to make a full recovery. Ratledge has been a crucial part of the Georgia offense, starting 31 games in his career, including all three contests this season, and was a second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

Impact on the Team

In Ratledge's absence, the Bulldogs will rely on juniors Micah Morris and Dylan Fairchild to fill the guard positions. Morris will take over Ratledge's spot at right guard, while Fairchild continues as the starting left guard. Senior Xavier Truss, who has experience at guard, and freshman Daniel Calhoun are also options to move up the depth chart if needed.

The injury comes at a challenging time for Georgia, which is set to face No. 4 Alabama on September 28 after an off week. The Bulldogs have been dealing with several injuries, including those to defensive linemen Warren Brinson, Mykel Williams, and Jordan Hall, but their depth and recruiting strategy have helped mitigate these losses.

Other Injury Updates

In other injury news, quarterback Carson Beck has a sprained AC joint in his non-throwing shoulder but is not expected to miss any games. Beck was hurt at the end of a run in the fourth quarter against Kentucky but has practiced both days following the injury.

Georgia's defensive line is also seeing some players return to action. Mykel Williams and Warren Brinson, who picked up injuries against Clemson, are making progress, with Brinson described as 'really close' to returning. Jordan Hall, who had surgery in August, is back running and working towards his return.

The Bulldogs' ability to manage these injuries and maintain their performance is a testament to their strong roster depth, particularly on the lines of scrimmage, which has been a focus of Coach Smart's recruiting efforts.