Florida coaches 'felt good about what we saw' while working out injured QB DJ Lagway
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway warms up before an NCAA college football game against Georgia, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: AP/John Raoux
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Injured Florida quarterback DJ Lagway worked out Monday for staffers who “felt good about what we saw,” coach Billy Napier said.
“Does that mean he’s 100%? Soft tissue is a very subjective issue,” said Napier, who added that he anticipated Lagway would practice later Monday.
Lagway was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2. He strained his left hamstring during a 3-yard run in the second quarter. He returned to the sideline in the second half with his legged wrapped and using crutches.
Tests revealed Lagway’s injury to be “less significant” than initially feared, and Napier said last week there was a path that would allow the highly touted freshman to play again this season. Lagway was able to get some work during individual drills in practice last week and even warmed up before a 49-17 loss to the Longhorns.
The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) could use him Saturday against LSU (6-3, 3-2), which has won five in a row in the series. Florida needs to win two of its final three games to become bowl eligible.
Napier is already without starting quarterback Graham Mertz, who had season-ending surgery last month to repair a torn ligament in his left knee.
Without Lagway, Napier turned to walk-on Aidan Warner. The Yale transfer has completed 19 of 47 passes for 198 yards, with no touchdowns and three interceptions the last two weeks.
Florida quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks for a way past Georgia linebacker CJ Allen (3) during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. Credit: AP/John Raoux
Napier said he never considered switching to fourth-stringer Clay Millen, who spent the past two seasons at Colorado State after a year at Nevada.
“We were very aware of what was happening,” Napier said. “It wasn’t necessarily Aidan as much as just in general. I think we can play better around him at times. And it is what it is at that point. You can only get so many people ready to play.”