Texas quarterback Garrett Gilbert, who lost his starting job heading into last week’s 49-20 victory over UCLA, underwent surgery today on his throwing shoulder that will sideline him for the rest of the season.
Kenny Boyd, Texas’ head athletic trainer for football, said Gilbert is expected to make a full recovery. The injury, Boyd said, apparently occurred during the Rice game on Sept. 3 and got “progressively worse” before medical staffers noticed the damage on an MRI performed after the team’s 17-16 victory over Brigham Young on Sept. 10.
“He had symptoms, but was not affected in practice leading up to BYU,” Boyd said. Gilbert, a five-star signee who has compiled a 7-7 career record as the team’s starter, was removed from the BYU game in the second quarter and replaced by Case McCoy.
McCoy, a sophomore, helped rally the Longhorns from a 13-0 deficit against BYU and made his first career start in Saturday’s 49-20 victory at UCLA. No. 19 Texas (3-0) is idle this week before opening Big 12 play at Iowa State (3-0) on Oct. 1.
Gilbert, a junior, completed 2-of-8 passes with two interceptions in the BYU game before he was replaced. During his college career, he has thrown for 3,301 yards, with more interceptions (23) than touchdown passes (13).
In a statement released by school officials, Gilbert said he “decided to have the surgery now, so I can get it taken care of … and be healthy and ready to go for next year.”
Because Gilbert has played in only two games, he would be eligible under NCAA rules for a medical redshirt this season. Texas coach Mack Brown said Gilbert “fought through some pain to continue to play” and coaches support his decision to have the season-ending surgery.
With Gilbert’s departure, Texas’ depth chart at quarterback _ which featured four players battling for the starting job in August _ is reduced to McCoy and David Ash, an incoming freshman who shares snaps with McCoy, depending on down and distance. Connor Wood, a redshirt freshman, transferred to Colorado at the conclusion of fall drills.
_ Jimmy Burch
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