The weekly injury report is out for Florida Football and there are 15 Gators on the list ahead of their matchup against LSU. If you are keeping score at home, LSU has 11 players listed, only eight of which are "Out" or "Questionable."
Some of the names for Florida are well known, such as Graham Mertz and Eugene Wilson. However, there are some other changes compared to last week that could play a role in whether Florida can pull off the upset over LSU.
Pup Howard - Out
The transfer linebacker from South Carolina has been as advertised this year: A sure-handed tackler in the run game who is vulnerable to getting picked on in pass coverage.
Howard only took 17 snaps against Texas and has been ruled out against LSU. Florida rotated through their entire gambit of linebackers on Saturday, so it wouldn't be shocking to see Florida do that again to see who sticks.
DJ Lagway - Questionable
This is, without saying, the big one for the Gators, and it isn't unfair to state that Florida has next to no shot of winning if he doesn't play. Florida has been insistent on playing Aidan Warner in the wake of Lagway's injury and won't even entertain the idea of Colorado State transfer Clay Millen.
Florida keeps hinting that Lagway could play, but hamstrings don't just magically heal, so we are still going to stay skeptical of this one.
Elijhah Badger - Questionable
If Lagway somehow does play, the status of Elijah Badger will also play a role in the offense. Badger missed last week and is listed as questionable this week.
Of wide receivers with at least 20 targets, Badger is fourth in the nation at yards per catch, averaging 23.3 yards per catch this season. Aidan Mizell would receive the largest uptick in snaps if Badger continues to miss.
Montrell Johnson - Questionable
Montrell Johnson hasn't taken a snap since the Tennessee game and was considered a game-time decision last week before sitting out.
Jadan Baugh and Ja'Kobi Jackson have been carrying the load since. One could argue, if Lagway missed again, that Baugh and Jackson are better suited to run into the heavy boxes Florida will face, whereas Johnson is more of a vision-based back and does better when plays are strung out.