![Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 2, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_625,w_6000,h_3375/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/213/01k1p6bq6neg0ctv7jxp.jpg "Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway (2) looks on during fall football practice at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, August 2, 2025. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]")
There is no getting around that the hopes and dreams of the Florida Gators in 2025 rest on the shoulders of DJ Lagway. The only issue is that the shoulder of Lagway kept him out of spring camp.
Well, that wasn't the only issue, as a calf issue kept Lagway out of the start of fall camp.
But after reports that Lagway was in a walking boot surfaced, and Gator Nation raised an eyebrow or two, Lagway returned to the field on Saturday and looked like he hadn't missed a beat.
DJ Lagway returns to practice on Saturday
Reports surfaced on Friday that Lagway was out of his walking boot, but seeing is believing.
During the open portion of Florida's practice on Saturday inside The Swamp, Lagway was featured delivering dimes to Gator receivers while sporting a sleeve on his calf.
DJ Lagway ➡️ Eugene Wilson III#Gators pic.twitter.com/FS4S7SA7UQ
— Zach Goodall (@zach_goodall) August 2, 2025
DJ Lagway throws deep to Tre Wilson III pic.twitter.com/lBgqa23suw
— Graham Hall (@GrahamHall) August 2, 2025
DJ Lagway throwing today for the first time in fall camp pic.twitter.com/mfgomZg1Vs
— Florida Victorious (@Fl_Victorious) August 2, 2025
As we have chronicled this offseason, Florida has the ceiling to make the playoffs and beyond in 2025, but it needs a healthy Lagway to do it. One of the very real concerns is that given the time Lagway has missed all offseason, he has missed out on generating chemistry with his receivers.
Making passes against the air isn't emblematic proof that Lagway and his receivers are going to be in synch come September, but during the open session, it didn't hurt that he was able to drop some deep bombs in stride.
A significant reason why the ceiling is sky high for Florida is that the Gators were 6-0 last year in games that Lagway started and finished.
The backup QB situation for Florida is what it is, and there are some options that could allow the Gators to survive a game or two, but Florida isn't making it to the playoffs in 2025 if Lagway misses any significant amount of time.
So the hope for all of Gator Nation is that this calf issue will be a thing of the past and that no new issues will crop up between now and when Florida takes on LIU to open the 2025 season.