Garrett Gilbert Out for Season After Shoulder Surgery

By Lynn Freehill in 40 Acres, Special, Sports on September 20, 2011 at 11:35 am | No Comments

There were indications that Garrett Gilbert would be replaced as starting QB for the rest of the season, but now it’s official.

Gilbert underwent shoulder surgery this morning, and doctors say he’ll be out for the rest of the year.

The injury apparently occurred during the Rice game, according to Texas’ head athletic trainer for football, Kenny Boyd.

“He had symptoms, but was not affected in practice leading up to BYU. After that, it got progressively worse,” Boyd says. “We did an MRI on the shoulder last week, and after our medical staff looked at the results, we recommended that he have surgery. He spent some time talking with his family and they agreed that was the route they wanted to go.”

Gilbert had a tough time in the BYU game, throwing a number of interceptions and enduring being booed off the field. He was pulled in favor of an upstart QB duo, Case McCoy and David Ash.

And in reality, Gilbert’s entire college career has been a heartbreaker. His debut came in the 2010 national championship, after Colt McCoy was injured early on—the highest-pressure start imaginable to a freshman’s college sports career. The Longhorns lost the game. Then, last year, he led the team through an excruciating 5-7 season.

It’s been a Greek tragedy of a comedown for the son of a former NFL quarterback, a hometown hero from Lake Travis who was rated as the second-best quarterback in his recruiting class and named the 2009 Gatorade National Player of the Year.

But Gilbert’s been nothing but class, stoically enduring the booing during the BYU game, then trading his helmet for a headset and cheering his replacements on, despite how painful it must have been.

Coach Mack Brown says he expects Gilbert to continue helping McCoy and Ash learn the offense. “He will continue to be a great leader for us helping those guys throughout the season,” Brown says. “With his work ethic and determination, we know he’ll get his shoulder back to full strength as soon as possible.”

Here’s wishing him a full and strong recovery.

Garrett Gilbert throws a pass during the Rice game. Photo courtesy UT Athletics.

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