It’s been a brutal start for the Florida Gators this season. After four games, they’ve fallen to 1-3, losing three straight. Even more concerning was the possibility of being without star quarterback DJ Lagway for the rest of the season after the loss to Miami.
On September 23, Zach Goodall of 247Sports reported that Lagway was wearing a walking boot to treat an “undisclosed injury.” That immediately sent Gators fans into panic mode, unsure of the health status of their former five-star quarterback.
However, on September 24, The Athletic’s Chris Vannini reported that Lagway was fine, citing Florida head coach Billy Napier.
“Florida coach Billy Napier says QB DJ Lagway is ‘100%’ and practicing this week. Lagway was stepped on in the Miami game and in a walking boot,” Vannini wrote.
It’s unclear on which play the injury occurred, but Miami’s defense was all over Lagway in the Week 4 loss to the Hurricanes. He was sacked a season-high four times and completed just 12 of 23 passes for 61 yards with no scores and no turnovers.
DJ Lagway Could Still Redshirt
After reports surfaced that Lagway was in a walking boot, speculation began about whether he might redshirt the rest of the season. The Miami game was his fourth appearance, meaning he’s at the cutoff point if he and Florida want to preserve a year of eligibility.
Lagway has battled a string of injuries dating back to last season, including hamstring, groin and shoulder issues. He had limited practice time heading into the year after undergoing surgery to repair a core muscle injury in the offseason. Then, in late July, he dealt with a calf strain that may have flared up again after the Miami game.
Following Florida’s loss to LSU in Week 3, some analysts suggested redshirting might be the best option.
“If I was DJ, I would redshirt,” 247Sports’ Bud Elliott wrote on X. “Doesn’t look right, has immense talent, take a season to get healthy and get right and keep two seasons of eligibility if you need them.”
Lagway hasn’t looked sharp. While completing 67.5% of his passes, he’s thrown for 690 yards with five touchdowns and six interceptions. Meanwhile, Florida’s offense ranks among the worst in the country, averaging just 11 points over the last three games.
Florida Schedule Doesn’t Get Any Better For DJ Lagway
If there’s any silver lining for Florida, it’s that they head into a bye week on September 27. That gives the team a chance to regroup and Lagway more time to heal. But the relief ends rather quickly.
The Gators will host No. 10 Texas in their next game before traveling to College Station to face No. 9 Texas A&M. Then it’s back at home to face a set of Bulldogs in Mississippi State and No. 5 Georgia. And what’s really concerning is that Mississippi State isn’t even a gimme game this year. They’re 4-0 with a win over then-No. 12 Arizona State back in Week 2.
By that point, Florida could be staring down a 2-6 or 1-7 record. That will only lead to questions about whether Napier remains on the sidelines—and whether Lagway missed a chance to save a season by not redshirting.
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