Georgia QB Carson Beck has season-ending surgery, Gunner Stockton in for CFP run

ATHENS, Ga. — Carson Beck had surgery on his elbow Monday, officially ending his season and making Gunner Stockton the Georgia starting quarterback for the College Football Playoff.

The news was expected but formally announced by the program on Monday afternoon.

“A full recovery is expected with throwing to begin spring of 2025,” the team said in a statement, adding that the surgery was performed by Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles.

Beck suffered an injury to his UCL during the SEC championship on Dec. 7. An MRI the next morning left open whether it would require surgery or if he could let it heal. The degree of the injury was never officially announced, but any UCL injury was going to make it hard to return for the Sugar Bowl, an expert told The Athletic.

While surgery was not done immediately, as time went on the pessimism increased; Georgia returned to practice but Beck remained in Jacksonville with his family and advisers to decide on a next move. Georgia has been preparing as if Beck would not be available.

Beck was injured on the final play of the first half of the SEC championship. He returned for one final play: The winning touchdown when Beck handed off to Trevor Etienne after Stockton was forced from the game because his helmet came off.

Handing off on one play was one thing, but being able to pass was another. While he technically has one more year of eligibility, Beck is expected to declare for the NFL Draft, where his injury status and performance this season make projecting him hard.

Beck entered the season as a possible No. 1 overall pick after passing for 3,941 yards in his first season as Georgia’s starter. But his accuracy dipped, throwing 11 interceptions over a five-game span, while his completion percentage and passing yards decreased.

Still, he offered a strong arm, big-game experience and knowledge of the system. It’s not ideal for the Bulldogs as they try to win a third national championship in four years. Before the news on Beck was made official, coach Kirby Smart was asked how practice this month helped get Stockton ready.

“Well, I would say just experience, right?” Smart said. “I do think knowing when you get ready for an opponent like Notre Dame, you need time. … We prepared for some of that prior to that because we knew it would be one of two opponents. But I think the biggest thing is just competition and practice. The situations we put him in. All those things allow him to get better as a quarterback.”