Georgia Bulldogs quarterback Carson Beck. Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Georgia gives injury update on QB Carson Beck

By Adam Gretz | Last updated Dec 7, 2024 9:17 PM ET

The Georgia Bulldogs won the SEC championship on Saturday, but it may have come at a significant cost.

Starting quarterback Carson Beck was injured on the final play of the first half when he was hit by Texas defender Trey Moore.

The play resulted in a fumble, while Beck remained on the field before finally leaving with assistance. He was removed from the game in favor of backup Gunner Stockton but had to return for one play in overtime when Stockton was also injured on a devastating hit to the head.

After the game, Georgia head coach Kirby Smart offered an update on Beck's status, saying he has an “upper extremity injury” and was unable to grip the ball at halftime.

Kirby Smart says Carson Beck has an “upper extremity injury” and wasn’t able to grip the ball during halftime. Says they’ll know more after MRI.
— John Talty (@JTalty) December 8, 2024

"Upper extremity injury" certainly leaves things open to interpretation and guesswork, but being unable to grip the ball at halftime is certainly a concern.

He did not seem to have an issue with the game-winning handoff, but the results of the MRI are going to be pretty important for Georgia as it prepares to head into the playoffs.

Beck entered the season with high expectations and figured to be a top pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. But his 2024 season did not go exactly as expected on an individual level, as turnovers were a constant problem for him.

Still, Georgia would almost certainly have him in the lineup for the playoffs than Stockton. Stockton was able to hold his own on Saturday but threw an egregious interception late in the fourth quarter that could have cost the Bulldogs the game. In the end, it did not. Now they have to wait to see the status of their starting quarterback.

The good news for Georgia is it will have a few weeks before they have to worry about it in a game. The SEC championship not only gives them an automatic bid into the 12-team playoff field but also a first-round bye into the quarterfinals.

Adam Gretz

Adam Gretz is a freelance writer based in Pittsburgh. He covers the NHL, NFL, MLB and NBA. Baseball is his favorite sport -- he is nearly halfway through his goal of seeing a game in every MLB ballpark. Catch him on Twitter @AGretz

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