DJ Lagway Injury Update: Florida QB’s Road to Recovery and Status for Saturday’s Game Against Texas
Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway is continuing to work his way back from a hamstring injury sustained in last Saturday’s rivalry game against Georgia. The highly touted freshman left the field in the first half of Florida’s 34-20 loss to the Bulldogs after going down on a designed run, and while he initially left the field on a cart and returned to the sidelines on crutches, the Gators are hopeful for his return. Head coach Billy Napier addressed Lagway’s status on Wednesday, revealing that the young quarterback is making progress, although a more definitive update on his availability for Saturday’s game against Texas will be provided later that evening.
Lagway’s injury occurred on a promising play, as he completed a 43-yard touchdown pass to receiver Aidan Mizell earlier in the game. However, after taking a hit on a running play, Lagway showed signs of discomfort and was quickly escorted off the field. At halftime, Napier described the injury as “significant,” but in the days following the game, the team received “positive information” indicating that the injury may not be as severe as initially feared. This update has provided some relief to the Gators’ coaching staff, though the full extent of the hamstring injury remains unclear.
Before going down, Lagway had been performing well. The freshman signal-caller had completed 62.8% of his passes for 1,024 yards and five touchdowns through the first nine games of the season. While he struggled somewhat against Georgia, completing just 2-of-6 passes for 47 yards, including the touchdown to Mizell, his potential has been on display throughout the season. Lagway had been starting in place of the injured Graham Mertz, who had been sidelined earlier in the year with an injury of his own. With Lagway’s departure, redshirt freshman Aidan Warner stepped in to finish the game against Georgia. Warner, who has limited playing time this season, is next in line to start for Florida if Lagway is unable to return to action for the upcoming showdown with Texas.
The Gators have been facing a challenging quarterback situation this season, with injuries affecting both Lagway and Mertz. Warner, who had a shaky debut against Georgia, is being thrust into a critical role as Florida prepares to face a tough Texas team. Despite the setbacks, Napier expressed optimism about Lagway’s recovery, noting that it’s been “great” for the freshman to be able to practice in some capacity as he continues to work through the hamstring issue.
As for the upcoming game against Texas, the Gators will need a strong performance from whichever quarterback is under center. If Lagway is unable to go, Warner will be counted on to step up in a high-stakes matchup. The Gators, who have struggled at times this season, will need their offense to find a rhythm against a Texas defense that has been formidable throughout the year. Lagway’s injury has added another layer of uncertainty to an already challenging season, but Florida remains hopeful that he can return to the field sooner rather than later.
Napier’s next update, expected after Wednesday night’s availability report, will likely provide more clarity on Lagway’s condition and whether he will be ready for action when the Gators take on Texas this weekend. As Florida navigates through this injury-plagued season, the status of their quarterback will remain a key storyline moving forward.
