Brock Bowers addresses people telling him to sit out season after injury

Georgia Bulldogs tight end Brock Bowers is one of the stars of the sport and when he sprained his ankle against Vanderbilt, there was concern about his future. In particular, there was concern that he either would not or should not return this season from the injury.

That, obviously, wasn’t the case. Bowers returned to play against Ole Miss and looked as good as ever in the win. Since that return, he’s addressed those who told him that he should sit out the rest of the season and start focusing on the NFL.

“I mean, it never really crossed my mind,” Brock Bowers said. “I just wanted to always come back for the team and all the guys in the locker room. We all just care so much about each other and I just wanted to come back and try to help the team win.”

Bowers has helped Georgia win more than a couple of games during his time in Athens. The junior has won two national championships and is going for a third this season.

After getting injured against Vanderbilt, Bowers had TightRope surgery, which is done to accelerate recovery. The expectation was that he’d miss between a month and the rest of the regular season. In the end, he missed two games.

In his return from the injury, Bowers cut well on the ankle and looked like his old self. Georgia beat Ole Miss 52-17 and he had three receptions for 34 yards and a touchdown. All of that, while head coach Kirby Smart admitted that he’s not playing at 100 percent.

“He’s in good shape. He’s conditioned. I don’t know that he’s 100%. But he’s healthy and safe enough to play,” Smart said. “We’re going to allow him to play as long as he wants to. He wanted to go out there to compete and play.”

Kirby Smart on people telling Brock Bowers to sit out

Brock Bowers made it clear that his focus was on returning to help his team. However, Kirby Smart also noted that when people told Bowers he should sit out, it made him angry and became a source of motivation to return.

“I didn’t have an expectation for Brock. I thought Brock would do what he could. Brock was hellbent to get back out there. I knew, I don’t know when it was so don’t quote me on it, but I was watching film of practice and there was a red blur back behind the play I was watching, about 20 yards behind it. It looked like a guy flying across the field, and I was like, ‘Who is that?’ And I was like, ‘Oh my god, it’s Brock.’ I knew we had a chance then. He’s just different. He took a path that no one takes on that injury and said, ‘This is what I’m doing,’” Smart said.

“I knew it was in the realm. It was a belief that he’d have to do something special. The day after it happened, his mother and father called and wanted to be aggressive with it and wanted to treat it. One of the best things for it is to get back on it, move it and not let it stiffen. We had had experience with other guys taking longer, and he took a really aggressive approach to it. He’s different.”