Georgia is preparing to play the College Football Playoff without starting quarterback Carson Beck, who is exploring surgical options to repair an elbow injury on his throwing arm, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

Beck, considered a potential first-round pick in next year’s NFL draft, is seeking medical evaluations. He hasn’t practiced with the Bulldogs since he was injured on the final play of the first half of Georgia’s 22-19 overtime win over Texas in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 7, sources told ESPN.

Sources say Beck’s return this season is unlikely, and sophomore Gunner Stockton is expected to make his first collegiate start in a College Football Playoff quarterfinal game at the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day (8:45 p.m. ET, ESPN). New Orleans do /ESPN+).

The Bulldogs received a first-round bye as the CFP’s No. 2 seed and will play the winner of the game between No. 7 Notre Dame and No. 7 Indiana on Friday in South Bend, Ind. (8 p.m. ET, ABC/ESPN/). 10. ESPN+).

Stockton came off the bench to help Georgia rally from a 6-3 halftime deficit in the SEC title game, completing 12 of 16 passes for 71 yards with an interception.

Beck had an inconsistent season this season, throwing for 3,485 yards with 28 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. He was hampered by dropped passes from Georgia receivers and inconsistent play on the offensive line.

He threw three interceptions in each of the three games – against Alabama, Texas and Florida. He threw nine interceptions in a four-game span from mid-October to early November.

Beck, a graduate of Jacksonville, Florida, has one season of college eligibility remaining, meaning he could potentially return to Georgia, transfer to another school or enter the NFL draft.

He was ranked by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. as the No. 4 quarterback prospect for next year’s NFL draft, behind Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Miami’s Cam Ward and Alabama’s Jalen Milroe.

Stockton, from Tiger, Georgia, has completed 25 of 32 passes for 206 yards in three games this season. He was ranked the nation’s top dual-threat quarterback prospect in the 2022 class by ESPN Recruiting after throwing for 13,652 yards with 177 touchdowns and running for 4,372 yards with 77 scores in his four-year career at Rabun County High School.

“I think his strengths are obviously a little different than Carson’s,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart said Dec. 11. “But we know that. There is no game that we don’t play and that we don’t have a plan for. “If Gunner had to play, he has to be ready if he is your backup quarterback.

ESPN’s Pete Thamel contributed to this report.