New detail adds context to DJ Lagway’s spring injury

Thoughout the spring, most Florida Gator fans focused in on the shoulder of DJ Lagway. After all, it's the specific part of the body that Billy Napier had mentioned that was ailing Lagway, and most Gator fans were perplexed when it was announced he was having shoulder issues.

However, a new claim by a Gator legend suggests that the shoulder was never the primary issue and that a different problem was the actual cause.

Florida Gators fans hoping DJ Lagway is ready to go in 2025

Chris Doering appeared on Crain & Company and helped preview the Gators for 2025.

When the topic of DJ Lagway came up, Doering dropped a nugget that hadn't been a talking point previously:

"Holding him out during the spring was just precautionary. A lot of people are talking about the shoulder. The reports that I heard that it was more of some sort of a hernia-type issue that dated back to his high school days that they were aware of that they were trying to rest and not have too much strain on the shoulder by having him throw when his midsection wasn't right."

When the injury was first announced and Napier said Lagway wouldn't be throwing during the spring, he pointed to a shoulder and to a "lower body injury." Most assumed the lower body was his hamstring, since that's what caused him to miss time during the 2024 campaign.

And because of the shoulder, it sent some on a wild goose chase with the belief that something was seriously wrong.

So if this version of events is correct, and the main issue was a hernia that was putting strain on the shoulder, that is a positive development for Florida. The recovery time for a hernia is far less than the recovery time for a major shoulder issue.

It still doesn't fix that Lagway missed out on valuable reps with a new group of wide receivers, and that could be a storyline early in the season if timing looks off, but for now, if Doering's account is true, it should help ease the fears of Gator fans heading into 2025.