Injured Florida quarterback DJ Laway is practicing for the third day in a row

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Injured Florida quarterback DJ Lagway practiced for a third straight day Wednesday and made progress toward a possible return against No. 21 LSU.

“He’s getting closer to getting ready to play,” coach Billy Napier said after practice. “We create a game-day environment in terms of the treatment and adjustments we use to make sure he’s comfortable with that. … He felt better today than yesterday. We hope this will be the case tomorrow.”

The highly touted freshman was carted off the field against Georgia on Nov. 2 with a strained left hamstring. In the second half he returned to the sideline with his legs wrapped and using crutches.

Tests showed his injury was “less serious” than initially feared, and Napier expects him to play again this season. Will it happen against the Tigers?

The Gators (4-5, 2-4 Southeastern Conference) could use him. They must win two of their last three games to become bowl eligible.

LSU (6-3, 3-2) has struggled mightily against dual-threat QBs, including allowing Alabama’s Jalen Milroe to rush for 185 yards and four touchdowns two weeks after Texas A&M’s Marcel Reed ran for 62 yards and three scores walked.

“Given their structure and the way they defend, one of the ways to neutralize that is to use the quarterback,” Napier said. “So you’ve seen some teams do that. Obviously our situation is a little different, but we are going to do what we have to do to guide DJ in his injury situation.

If Lagway can’t play against the Tigers, walk-on and Yale transfer, Aidan Warner would make his second straight start.