Georgia starting quarterback Carson Beck will officially miss the remainder of the college football season after underdoing elbow surgery on Monday, the school confirmed.

 

Beck was hurt during the Southeastern Conference championship game against Texas, needing to come off the field in obvious pain.

 

 

Beck’s UCL surgery was performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache and he is expected to resume throwing in the spring.

 

ElAttrache is known in the sports world as the surgeon for Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady, Kobe Bryant, Shohei Ohtani, Brooks Koepka, and others.

 

Beck is in his second season as the Bulldogs’ starter, with a 24-3 record as the signal caller since taking over for Stetson Bennett.

 

Georgia plays Notre Dame in the College Football Playoff quarterfinals on New Year’s Day. Gunner Stockton will likely lead the Georgia offense the rest of the season.

 

 

Stockton relieved Beck in the second half against Texas and held off one of the best teams in the country to claim the first SEC title as a 16-team conference.

 

Beck’s play this season has been more under fire from fans than in 2023, as he had 28 touchdowns, but a rise, with a dozen interceptions.

 

Beck could enter the NFL Draft but also has college eligibility remaining, giving him options for his future.

 

Should he opt for the NFL, Beck is not among the top group of quarterback prospects, but should be drafted.

 

Beck’s Georgia future would be uncertain as well, as he could opt to enter the transfer portal for his final college season with plenty of good arms in Athens.

 

Georgia Bulldogs legend Brock Bowers became just the third rookie NFL tight end in league history to reach 1,000 yards in his first year.

 

The moment came during the Las Vegas Raiders’ 19-14 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 when quarterback Aidan O’Connell connected with Bowers for a 32-yard catch.

 

That catch also marked Bowers’ 100th of the season, which makes him the first rookie tight end to reach that number.

 

“I couldn’t do it without all the other guys,” Bowers said after the game. “Aidan was slinging that thing and everyone was making plays so it felt good. …Just coming here and [winning], the vibes are just way better.”

 

Bowers, the Raiders’ former 13th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, officially joins Chicago Bears’ Mike Ditka and Atlanta Falcons’ Kyle Pitts as the only rookie tight ends to hit the 1,000 yards benchmark in Year 1.

 

Heading into Week 17 against the New Orleans Saints, Bowers has hauled in a total of 101 catches for 1,067 yards on the season so far.

 

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

 

 

Week 16 worst QB performances: Kenny Pickett shows Eagles how much they…

NFL

Steelers’ Mike Tomlin Makes Very Clear Statement About The Potential Of Diontae Johnson…

The Pittsburgh Steelers have really been affected by the absence of star wide receiver George Pickens. The offense’s most consistent weapon has missed three games in a row, a stretch that has seen the franchise go on to lose two contests.

It will be imperative to get him back as soon as possible, especially as the team approaches the 2024 playoffs. The pass-catchers on offense have had a tough time getting open, with opponents not having to worry so much about a dynamic route-runner looking for the ball. Even when Pickens returns, there are still some concerns about the capabilities of the receiving corps. It has been a rollercoaster of a season for former Steelers wideout Diontae Johnson.

Pittsburgh traded him to the Carolina Panthers, but then he ended up finding himself as a member of the Baltimore Ravens prior to the trade deadline. This went south, and extremely quickly. Baltimore waived Johnson prior to Saturday’s game against the Steelers, sparking plenty of rumors about where the receiver could end up. Head Coach Mike Tomlin spoke with the media on Sunday as his group begins to prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day.

When asked about his thoughts about Johnson’s availability and the possibility of claiming him before the deadline at 4pm on Monday, Tomlin answered in the only way he knows how. It’s safe to say he wasn’t worried about the idea of his former player potentially being available. “I have nothing to add from someone that’s not on our football team,” Tomlin said. The Steelers’ head coach would never come out in a press conference and blatantly state that he is interested in bringing in a newly-waived player, but Tomlin did have some hesitation when answering the question. Pittsburgh traded Johnson for a reason, but if he were to come in and act selfless, it’s hard to argue that he wouldn’t make sense back in the Steel City. Johnson only had one catch that went for six yards during his short stint in Baltimore. H

e played pretty well for the Panthers, hauling in 30 passes for 357 yards and three touchdowns in a pretty abysmal offense. It’s pretty wild to see just how quickly his career has turned upside down, but there may not be a better place to get it back on track than the organization that drafted him. The most important thing when potentially inquiring about Johnson will be ensuring that locker room issues won’t come with his arrival. There’s no guarantee another team won’t put a claim in for him, but it shouldn’t come as surprising if the Steelers do. He is familiar with the franchise, majority of the coaching staff and players on the current roster. Steelers Will Need To Rely On Passing Game In Playoffs If Pittsburgh does indeed make a run in the postseason, not every game is going to be a blowout. Throwing the ball and relying on pass-catchers could absolutely determine the outcome of one, or multiple, games in the tournament. Johnson might not be a perfect fit in the locker room, which should lead to the Steelers passing on him if that is the internal belief. However, Tomlin didn’t completely shut down the notion of the wide receiver returning.

 

Christian Horner declares Honda ‘refused’ to bid for Yuki Tsunoda for Red Bull promotion

 

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen didn’t object when Phil Jackson asked them if Bulls…

Phil Jackson asked NBA icons Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen how they felt about the Chicago Bulls acquiring Dennis Rodman from the San Antonio Spurs in 1995. Jordan and Pippen didn’t like Rodman since he used to hurt them physically when he was on the Detroit Pistons, but neither superstar objected. “So, in the summer of 1995, when Phil asked how I felt about the possibility of the Bulls acquiring Dennis, who was then 34, I didn’t object,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Nor did Michael.

Not that there weren’t some concerns. Of course there were. Michael’s reaction was something to the effect of ‘Dennis Rodman? Really?’ Yes, really, and it made a lot of sense.” Rodman played three seasons with the Bulls and helped Jordan and Pippen three-peat again. Chicago won titles in 1996, 1997 and 1998 and Rodman played his role to a T. One of the top defenders in NBA history, Rodman appeared in 199 games with the Bulls. He averaged 5.2 points and 15.3 rebounds and won three consecutive rebounding titles. “Dennis was one of the smartest guys I played with,” Jordan said in The Last Dance about Rodman. “He understood defensive strategy with all the rotations.

He had no limits in terms of what he does. … He was a new character, but I knew Dennis, and I knew what he could do basketball-wise.” Pippen admired Rodman’s defensive ability and motor. Jordan, Pippen and Rodman didn’t hang out with each other off the court, but the three Hall of Famers had great chemistry on the basketball floor.

“He studied the tendencies of his opponents and teammates, planting himself in perfect rebounding position even before guys got into a shooting mode,” Pippen wrote in his book. “Dennis possessed an unbelievable basketball IQ. He could have a tremendous impact on a game without scoring a single point. How many players can you say that about? After the Bulls won their fifth championship in 1997 against the Utah Jazz, Jordan was asked by an NBA reporter if he wanted Rodman back and MJ made it clear that Chicago needed to re-sign Rodzilla despite his berserk nature. “His dresses doesn’t bother me,” Jordan said. “His hair doesn’t bother me.

 

Sure, I mean, he’s gonna go wacko every now and then. We’ve come to live with that. We’ve come to accept that. But you can’t find another player on the basketball court that works just as hard as Dennis Rodman. Gives 110%, dives at loose balls even if he can’t get them. That’s Dennis Rodman. So I don’t have a problem with Dennis, and I don’t think Phil does. I don’t think Scottie does.

We’ve been able to control him to some degree, and we’re here for champions back-to-back.” Rodman finished his Bulls career with averages of 5.2 points, 15.3 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 0.6 steals and 0.3 blocks. The Bulls beat the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1996 NBA Finals and the Jazz in the 1997 and 1998 NBA Finals. Jordan, Pippen and Rodman are in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. They are three of the greatest players in NBA history.

 

Phoenix Suns make major Devin Booker announcement

MLB

Yankees trade away Gold Glove winner to NL team

The New York Yankees are reportedly parting ways with former All-Star and Gold Glove winner Jose Trevino. Reports emerged Friday that the Yankees have agreed to trade Trevino to the Cincinnati Reds. In exchange, the Yankees are set to receive right-handed relief pitcher Fernando Cruz and catcher Alex Jackson. Trevino had a breakout campaign for the Yankees in 2022. The veteran catcher hit .248 with 11 home runs and 43 RBI across 115 games. Trevino also won the Platinum Glove for his stellar defense that season.

But Trevino’s effectiveness at the plate has dipped significantly since then. Last season, the 32-year-old catcher had a batting average of just .215 with 8 home runs and 28 RBIs over 73 games. He eventually lost his starting job to rookie catcher Austin Wells, who likely factored into the Yankees’ decision to move on from Trevino. The Bronx Bombers have made quite a few moves since losing out on Juan Soto in free agency. The Yankees traded for a former NL MVP earlier this week and are reportedly competing with the New York Mets to land another marquee free agent.

Don’t be fooled by the final score of the Notre Dame vs. Indiana game, as it was not as close as it appears. The 7th-seeded Irish defeated 10th-seeded Indiana 27-17 on Friday night, but the game was well out of reach by the time it ended. Notre Dame was comfortably ahead 27-3 late in the fourth quarter, with their backups on the field. It wasn’t until Indiana scored a touchdown and recovered an onside kick late in the game that they added another score, making it seem closer than it actually was. This game ended up being a blowout, despite what the score indicates.

It’s unfortunate that the first-ever 12-team College Football Playoff game ended in a blowout, as the expanded format was meant to deliver more competitive first-round matchups. Sadly, the inaugural game didn’t live up to those expectations. Social media buzzed throughout the game, with many questioning Indiana’s place in the playoff. It’s hard to deny that teams like Alabama, South Carolina, Ole Miss, or possibly Miami (FL) would have posed a much tougher challenge than Indiana did. However, the College Football Playoff committee didn’t see it that way.

The committee should be embarrassed for one crucial reason after this game: strength of schedule matters. Throughout the season, the CFP committee emphasized the importance of strength of schedule, yet their rankings didn’t reflect that. A prime example is Georgia, which dropped nine spots after a loss to a ranked Ole Miss team on the road, a fall that seemed excessive. In contrast, Miami didn’t drop nearly as far after a loss to a weaker opponent. Strength of schedule is why many believed teams like Alabama and Ole Miss deserved playoff spots over teams like SMU and Indiana, whose schedules were far less challenging. Both of these teams failed to secure a top-25 win, making their inclusion in the playoff seem questionable.

This first playoff game proves that strength of schedule really does matter. Many felt Indiana didn’t deserve a playoff spot due to their weak schedule, and this game confirmed those doubts, as Indiana didn’t appear to be a top-25 team, let alone a top-12 team. Hopefully, the committee takes this into account for next season, as sometimes the more deserving teams should be chosen over those who simply meet the technical requirements but aren’t truly competitive.

 

 

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) and Georgia offensive lineman Xavier Truss (73) celebrate a rushing touchdown by Georgia running back Nate Frazier (not pictured) during the fourth quarter against Tennessee at Sanford Stadium, Saturday, November 16, 2024, in Athens, Ga. Georgia won 31-)

 

 

ATHENS — While making an appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay ahead of the Notre Dame-Indiana game on Friday night, Georgia coach Kirby Smart provided an update on quarterback Carson Beck.

 

While Smart did not confirm the reports that Beck would be out for the entirety of the College Football Playoff, he did share why the quarterback has been away from the team as the Bulldogs continue to prepare for their College Football Playoff game.

 

“He and his family down in Jacksonville, his team and staff and really group of people in his family have been trying to pursue the best options to go forward,” Smart said. “We’ve talked to him. We’ve communicated with him, and we’re hoping for the best.”

 

Beck suffered an injury to his elbow on the final play of the first half of the SEC Championship game.

 

On the season, Beck has thrown for 3,485 yards while completing 65 percent of his passes. He threw 28 touchdowns this to go with 12 interceptions. He has started the previous 27 games for Georgia, with the Bulldogs going 24-3 in those starts.

 

With Beck unavailable, Gunner Stockton is in line start in his place. Stockton filled in for Beck in the SEC Championship game, completing 12 of 16 pass attempts for 71 yards and an interception in the 22-19 win over Texas.

 

“He’s been a great competitor. He’s had some really great practices,” Smart said of Stockton on College GameDay. “It’s been good to see him get reps and grow as a player. It’s been really enjoyable to watch him grow and go against that defense of ours. It’s been awesome for him.”

 

Stockton would be making his first career start in the Sugar Bowl, which is set for Jan. 1 and an 8:45 p.m. ET kickoff. The Bulldogs have had some time off to help further prepare Stockton and integrate him into the offense.

 

Georgia will learn who it is playing on Friday, as the Bulldogs face the winner of Notre Dame and Indiana. That game is set for an 8 p.m. ET start on

 

 

Latest Football

The positive news for the Georgia Bulldogs is that they have a bye in the first round of the College Football Playoff, meaning they only need to win one less game than eight other teams in the CFP field to secure the national championship.

The downside, however, is that they may have to achieve that national title without their starting quarterback.

Carson Beck suffered a shoulder injury on the final play of the SEC Championship game, when he tried a desperation throw from near midfield, and his throwing arm was hit by Texas linebacker Trey Moore.

Although Georgia had hoped to have him back after the Sugar Bowl, where they’ll face the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame versus No. 10 Indiana, reports suggest that Beck’s recovery is not improving. Matt Zenitz of 247Sports recently reported that UGA is preparing to play the CFP without Beck.

“Can confirm via sources that Carson is expected to miss the remainder of the season and that Gunner Stockton is set to be Georgia’s starting QB in the College Football Playoff,” Zenitz wrote.

“Carson hasn’t been with the team and has spent the past couple of weeks consulting with several doctors, including one in Texas and one in California, to determine the best treatment for his elbow injury from the SEC title game.”

Beck has been Georgia’s starting quarterback for all 13 games this season, ranking eighth nationally in touchdown passes (28) and ninth in passing yards (3,485).

In contrast, Stockton has played in only seven games over two seasons, totaling 354 passing yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.

The 6-foot-1 sophomore completed 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards and an interception in relief of Beck during the SEC Championship, although he helped lead the Bulldogs to two touchdowns and two field goals in the second half and overtime.

 

 

Georgia is preparing to play the College Football Playoff without starting quarterback Carson Beck, who is exploring surgery options to repair an injury to his elbow on his throwing arm, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

 

Beck, who was considered a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, is seeking medical opinions. He hasn’t practiced with the Bulldogs since he was hurt on the final play of the first half in Georgia’s 22-19 overtime victory against Texas in the SEC championship game on Dec. 7, sources told ESPN.

 

Beck’s return this season is unlikely, according to sources, and sophomore Gunner Stockton is expected to make his first college start in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal matchup at the Allstate Sugar Bowl in New Orleans on New Year’s Day (8:45 p.m. ET/ESPN, ESPN+).

 

The Bulldogs received a first-round bye as the No. 2 seed in the CFP and will play the winner of Friday’s game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 10 Indiana in South Bend, Indiana (8 p.m. ET

 

Stockton came off the bench to rally Georgia from a 6-3 halftime deficit in the SEC title game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with one interception.

 

Beck had an inconsistent campaign this past season, throwing for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was hampered by dropped passes by Georgia’s receivers and inconsistent play on the offensive line.

 

Beck tossed three interceptions in each of three games — against Alabama, Texas and Florida. He threw nine interceptions in a four-game stretch from mid-October to early November.

 

Beck, a senior from Jacksonville, Florida, has a season of college eligibility remaining, meaning he could possibly return to Georgia, transfer to another school or enter the NFL draft.

 

Beck was ranked the No. 4 quarterback prospect eligible for next year’s NFL draft by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr., behind Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Miami’s Cam Ward and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.

 

Stockton, from Tiger, Georgia, has completed 25 of 32 passes for 206 yards in three games this season. He was ranked the No. 5 dual-threat quarterback prospect in the country in the class of 2022 by ESPN Recruiting, after throwing for 13,652 yards with 177 touchdowns and running for 4,372 yards with 77 scores in his four-year career at Rabun County High School.

 

“Well, I think his strengths are somewhat different than Carson’s, obviously,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said on Dec. 11. “But we’ve known that. There’s not a game we don’t go into that we don’t have a plan for Gunner if he were to have to play. I mean, when he’s your backup quarterback he’s got to be ready to play.”

 

 

Georgia football has missed out on one of the three quarterbacks they were publicly connected to. The Bulldogs, along with Kirby Smart, have focused on two positions in the transfer portal: wide receiver and quarterback. While Georgia has made progress with a few wide receivers, there has been little movement with any quarterbacks thus far.

Georgia was recently linked to Alabama transfer QB Dylan Lonergan, who seemed like a strong target for the Bulldogs. According to 247Sports, Lonergan is ranked as the No. 20 QB in the nation, so although not the highest-ranked option, he possesses significant talent and would likely thrive with a chance to play.

However, that opportunity won’t be with Georgia as Lonergan officially committed to Boston College on Tuesday, according to On3’s Pete Thamel.

So, where does Georgia go from here? The advantage for Georgia is they don’t necessarily need a QB from the portal. If one of their current quarterbacks transfers, they likely will, but the Bulldogs already have four strong options in Gunner Stockton, Jaden Rashada, Ryan Montgomery, and Ryan Puglisi for next season. There’s even a possibility that Carson Beck could return for another season.

If Smart still desires a QB from the portal, Georgia has been linked to two other prospects, including Cal transfer Fernando Mendoza and Charlotte transfer Deshawn Purdie. Smart could intensify their pursuit of either player in hopes of securing their commitment.

Ultimately, missing out on this recruitment isn’t disastrous for Georgia. There’s still ample time to acquire a transfer QB if needed, but it’s not a requirement. It will be intriguing to see how Georgia handles the rest of the offseason.

 

 

Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck entered the 2024 campaign among the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy, but his senior season turned out far from worthy.

 

Things began to go off the rails for the 23-year-old in Georgia’s sixth game of the season against Mississippi State. There were signs that something was awry with Beck after he threw 3 interceptions in his team’s first loss of the year, which came against Alabama on Sept. 28. Then, two weeks later in Starkville, Beck began a stretch of four contests that would see him throw 9 interceptions compared to just 5 touchdowns.

 

Georgia lost its second game of the year in the final contest of that span to Ole Miss, putting itself in danger of missing both the SEC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff. However, the Bulldogs and Beck responded, winning their final four contests of the season — including besting the No. 5-seeded Texas Longhorns for the second time this year.

 

 

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart talks with quarterback Carson Beck. John David Mercer-Imagn Images

Beck threw 11 touchdown passes and zero picks over that run, leading Georgia to the SEC Title for the second time in three years and to the No. 2 seed and a bye through Round 1 of college football’s first ever 12-team playoff.

 

Needless to say, Beck played himself out of Heisman contention and out of the running to be No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft. However, he’s clearly back on track and poised to be a Day-2 target (assuming relative health) considering the general weakness of the 2025 class and how many pro teams are desperate for a quality QB at value on a rookie contract.

 

Bleacher Report’s NFL Scouting Department on Monday, Dec. 16, pegged Beck as a top target of the Cleveland Browns.

 

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson.

Cleveland Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson. Ken Blaze-Imagn Images

“[Beck’s] play at Georgia this year probably took him out of the first-round conversation. A recent UCL injury has sparked questions about his availability for the College Football Playoff and whether he’ll even declare for the draft,” B/R wrote. “Beck’s sinking draft stock could actually make him a logical quarterback target for the Browns. They wouldn’t have to use a first-round pick, and Beck’s skill set could make sense if Cleveland wants to let Kevin Stefanski get back to his pre-Deshaun Watson roots.”

 

The Browns can’t dump Watson’s contract, which runs for two more years, but the team is expected to move on permanently in 2025.

 

Cleveland also just benched backup Jameis Winston for second-year player Dorian Thompson-Robinson, who has been disastrous across 12 career appearances that include 1 touchdown against 7 interceptions and a 51.4% completion rate.

 

 

 

This month, Georgia football will continue its hunt for a third national title in four seasons. However, it was not all sunshine and rainbows for the Georgia Bulldogs this year, with numerous off-the-field issues taking center stage this offseason. Among the Georgia players to have run-ins with the law this offseason was wide receiver RaRa Thomas, a six-two receiver with over 1,000 yards across three college seasons. On Tuesday, Thomas jumped for the transfer portal to revive his playing career.

 

This offseason, Thomas found himself dismissed from the Georgia football team following an arrest for charges of “cruelty to children-family violence, a second-degree felony, and two misdemeanor counts of battery-family violence.” With Thomas’ departure from Georgia again resurfacing the program’s troubled offseason, college football fans quickly jumped on the SEC power for their well-documented issues.

 

 

Georgia Football Bashed By Fans Following Portal Entry

Georgia Football, transfer portal

Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) Throws a pass to Georgia wide receiver Rara Thomas (9) during the G-Day spring football game in Athens, Ga., on Saturday, April 13, 2024.

 

The former Mississippi State transfer has 1,261 career receiving yards and 13 touchdowns.

 

 

On Tuesday, Georgia football officially said goodbye to wide receiver RaRa Thomas, although he was dismissed in early August following an arrest. Last season, his first with the Georgia Bulldogs, Thomas collected 23 receptions for 383 yards and one touchdown. He previously played for the Mississippi State Bulldogs, where he posted 62 receptions, 878 yards, and 12 touchdowns from 2021 to 2022.

 

Thomas was among 16 players this year to be arrested or charged with racing, reckless driving, speeding, or battery, per OnlineAthens. Thomas’ transfer portal entry again reminded college football fans of Georgia’s troubling offseason, with many putting the program on blast: