Tech OL Gardner to miss remainder of season

Georgia Tech offensive tackle Andrew Gardner will miss the rest of the season, coach Paul Johnson said Tuesday at his press conference.

Johnson said Gardner will have surgery on Thursday. Johnson said Gardner made the decision so he would be ready for the NFL draft.

It is a significant loss because Gardner has been Tech’s best offensive lineman this season, twice winning ACC offensive lineman of the week. He was first-team all-ACC last season.

Gardner has a torn labrum in his left shoulder and went to get another opinion Monday. He has been playing with the injury all season.

Gardner has started 48 consecutive games, beginning with the first game of his redshirt freshman season. It’s the longest active streak in Division I-A.