Georgia Bulldogs guard Tate Rattlage has undergone ankle surgery

Georgia All-American guard Tate Rutledge underwent tightrope surgery on his sprained left ankle Monday and is expected to miss a few games, Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart announced Tuesday.

Rutledge, a senior from Rome, Georgia, suffered the injury in the second quarter of the team’s 13-12 win at Kentucky on Saturday. The procedure usually has a recovery period of four to six weeks.

The news was even better regarding star quarterback Carson Beck. Beck suffered a sprained AC joint in his left shoulder, but Smart said he is not expected to miss any games. Beck suffered the injury at the end of a drive in the fourth quarter at Kentucky.

“We sprained seven AC joints, so it’s not like a significant or major injury,” Smart said Tuesday. “Carson is fine. He practiced for two days.”

Georgia has an open date this week before traveling to No. 4 Alabama on Sept. 28 (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC). The No. 2 Bulldogs play home games against Auburn and Mississippi State before facing No. 1 Texas on the road Oct. 19.

Rutledge, 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, has started 31 games in his Georgia career, including three contests this season. He was a second-team All-American and first-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

Ratledge is ranked the No. 4 interior offensive line prospect for the 2025 NFL Draft in recent projections by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

“He’s already had the tightrope (surgery),” Smart said. “He’s in the rehab process. We checked it on game night and had to fix it. He’ll be back as soon as possible. We’re expecting a healthy and full recovery.”

Juniors Micah Morris and Dylan Fairchild were Georgia’s guards in Ratledge’s absence.

Last season, Georgia tight end Brock Bowers returned from tightrope ankle surgery in just 26 days. Offensive tackles Amarius Mims and Lawson Lackey took longer to return to the field after the procedure.