Florida QB DJ Laway is on “a recovery and return journey” this season after a hamstring injury

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida quarterback DJ Lagway’s hamstring injury is “less serious” than initially feared, and the Gators have not ruled him out for Saturday’s game at No. 5 Texas.

“I think a lot of that will be determined as we continue our journey through the week,” coach Billy Napier said Monday.

“We believe there is a path to recovery and return,” Napier added.

Lagoway left on Saturday 34-20 loss to No. 2 Georgia in the second quarter and returned to the sideline in the second half with his legs wrapped and using crutches. He was the second Florida quarterback to go down this season, joining starter Graham Mertz.

Replays showed Lagway grabbing his left hamstring during a three-yard run. He was carted off the field to loud applause while the Gators led 10-3 in a rivalry game known as “The World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party.”

Mertz is out for the season due to a torn ligament in his left knee, so the Gators had to bring in Aidan Warner against one of the best defenses in the Southeastern Conference. Warner would start against the Longhorns if Lagway cannot play.

Warner completed 7 of 22 passes for 66 yards, with an interception that set up a late touchdown. He was also fired twice.

Lagway, a highly touted freshman from Texas, completed 2 of 6 passes for 47 yards, including a 43-yarder to Aidan Mizell for a touchdown.

Lagway has completed 61% of his passes for 1,071 yards, with six touchdowns and five interceptions. His numbers in his first two starts were eye-popping: 715 yards passing, including 10 completions of 40 yards or longer.

And it wasn’t the dinks and dunks that brought in big wins. He dropped balls in buckets down the field and hit receivers in stride. He seemed the ideal candidate for Napier’s read-option attack that requires deep shots.

It remains to be seen how Warner would fit that mold. How Florida ended up with a walk-on at third-string quarterback is probably more concerning.

Napier has lost eight scholarship QBs earlier than expected during his three years at Florida, including transfers Jalen Kitna, Jack Miller and Max Brown. Signer Jaden Rashada never made it to Gainesville after a nearly $14 million name, image and likeness deal fell through.

Rashada ended up at Arizona State for a year and then transferred to Georgia. He is now suing Napier and a prominent booster over the NIL deal.

Colorado State transfer Clay Millen is on scholarship and is behind Warner on the depth chart.

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