DJ Lagway injury update: Gators QB continues practicing as Florida eyes possible return vs. LSU

Football

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Image Credit: Catherine McCarthy, UAA

Florida Gators freshman quarterback DJ Lagway is listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against the No. 21 LSU Tigers with a hamstring injury. While that designation has frequently led to players not suiting up under head coach Billy Napier, there’s reason to believe the Lagway situation is different.

Grade 2 hamstring strains generally take 2-8 weeks to heal — and that’s for normal people who are not athletes and do not necessarily have the opportunity to rehab around the clock like Lagway, who was injured about two weeks ago in the second quarter against Georgia.

Further increasing the likelihood that Lagway plays is the fact that he has practiced for three straight days this week, according to Napier.

“He’s been able to practice,” Napier said. “Obviously, he’s modified a little bit [in what he can do], but he’s making progress every day. He is getting closer and closer to being prepared to play. We are creating a game-day environment in terms of the treatment and modifications we’re using just to make sure he’s comfortable with that. …

“He’s felt better [Wednesday] than he felt [Tuesday]. We’re hopeful that’ll be the case [Thursday].”

Redshirt freshman Aidan Warner, a transfer from Yale, completed 12 of 25 passes for 132 yards and two interceptions in place of Lagway against Texas. On Monday, Napier said he never considered moving to redshirt junior Clay Millen, a more experienced transfer from Colorado State who completed 72.2% of his passes for 1,910 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Rams two seasons ago.

Senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. has been the paradigm of Napier’s “questionable” games. Listed with that designation every week since being injured on Oct. 12, Johnson has yet to step foot on the field. While freshman Jadan Baugh and redshirt junior Ja’Kobi Jackson have both played quite well in his stead, getting another playmaker back would still help the Gators.

“He is much closer. He’s been able to do more this week than he did last week,” Napier said of Johnson. “He’s day to day, and I think, ultimately, that’s a position where you have a lower body injury, you got to be 100% to be as effective as you want to be.

“This one’s personal to him because he’s from Louisiana, so he’s motivated [to play]. He’s practiced. Is he 100%? We’ll see, but we’re going to do what we’ve done in the past. We’re not going to put him out there until he’s ready.”

Senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger and redshirt junior right tackle Damieon George Jr. are also listed as questionable after missing last week’s game. Should Florida get the and Lagway back — even if Johnson is still out — that would undoubtedly be a boon for the offense.

The defense will not have the same luck, however. The Gators will remain down four starting defensive backs — including both starting cornerbacks — with sophomore linebacker Grayson Howard joining them as out for the game.

LSU is be the sixth top-25 opponent Florida will face over its first 10 games this season. The prior five were all ranked in last week’s top 10.