16 members of Florida Football listed on injury report ahead of Texas A&M game
![Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) runs for a touchdown during the second half to make it 38-7 after the extra point at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. The Florida Gators won 45-7 over the Bulldogs. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2549,h_1433,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images%2FImagnImages%2Fmmsport%2F213%2F01j7k8y1qhn2ete5b3tx.jpg "Florida Gators wide receiver Eugene Wilson III (3) runs for a touchdown during the second half to make it 38-7 after the extra point at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville, FL on Saturday, September 7, 2024 against the Samford Bulldogs. The Florida Gators won 45-7 over the Bulldogs. [Doug Engle/Gainesville Sun]")
In an effort to be more transparent in 2024, teams in the SEC are releasing "Availability Reports" on Wednesdays prior to their Saturday games. Florida Football dropped its report on Wednesday, and it includes a lengthy list of names we already knew, along with a couple of surprises.
And if Florida is going to pull off the upset on Saturday, it will need some younger players on defense to step up to fill in for those hurt.
Florida Football: Everybody Hurts
Officially, Florida has 16 players listed on their report. 10 players are listed as out while another six are listed as questionable. Per SEC rules a player listed as questionable is uncertain to play/has a 50% chance to play.
Player | Status |
|---|---|
Ja’Quavion Fraziars | Out |
Ja'Keem Jackson | Out |
Keon Zipperer | Out |
Asa Turner | Out |
Kahleil Jackson | Out |
Ahman Covington | Out |
Brayden Slade | Out |
Caleb Rillos | Out |
Brian Green Jr. | Out |
Jamari Lyons | Out |
Sharif Denson | Questionable |
Eugene Wilson III | Questionable |
Andy Jean | Questionable |
Bryce Thornton | Questionable |
T.J. Searcy | Questionable |
Devin Moore | Questionable |
Of the players listed as out, Asa Turner and Ja'Keem Jackson are the most notable.
Turner transferred in from Washington and was expected to make the safety group a strength in 2024. He left the Miami game early and did not play against Samford. DJ Douglas and Trikweze Bridges split snaps at safety on Saturday in Turner's abscense.
Jackson left the Samford game early. Depending on the status of Devin Moore, Dijon Johnson, in theory, would be in line to get the start at cornerback on Saturday.
Of those listed as questionable, Tre Wilson is by far the most concerning. Wilson appeared to have no issues against Samford, so it is a surprise to see him on the report. Whether he needs some maintenance work and his listing is gamesmanship, we don't know, but he would be a huge loss on Saturday if he is unable to go.
Also notable is the fact that Graham Mertz and Joey Slackman are not on the report. Both missed the game against Samford. While Napier hasn't officially said who will start at QB, it is heavily implied that Mertz will get the start on Saturday.
Slackman, meanwhile, looked solid against Miami, with three tackles and two hurries.
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