DJ Lagway injury update: Florida Gators QB among starters cleared to play vs. No. 22 LSU

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Image Credit: UAA

Florida Gators freshman quarterback DJ Lagway had been listed as questionable for Saturday’s game against the No. 22 LSU Tigers with a hamstring injury. That designation officially changed Thursday night with Lagway being moved to “active” as head coach Billy Napier announced on his weekly radio show that the 6-foot-3, 239-pounder would play this week.

Lagway is not the only player cleared to play the Tigers, in fact. Senior wide receiver Elijhah Badger, the Gators’ leading pass catcher, was also activated for the game. The duo missed last week’s contest, a 32-point loss at Texas.

It has been a quick recovery process for Lagway, who reportedly suffered a Grade 2 hamstring strain. Such an injury usually takes 2-8 weeks to heal, and Saturday will mark exactly two weeks since Lagway was hurt in the second quarter against Georgia.

Napier on Wednesday said Lagway had been practicing all week ad continuously ramping up his work in those sessions.

There were four players listed as questionable on Wednesday’s injury report; the other two continue to hold that designation. Senior running back Montrell Johnson Jr. has been listed as questionable every week since being injured on Oct. 12, yet has not been cleared to step foot on the field. While freshman Jadan Baugh and redshirt junior Ja’Kobi Jackson have both played quite well in his stead, getting another playmaker back would still help the Gators.

“He is much closer. He’s been able to do more this week than he did last week,” Napier said of Johnson. “He’s day to day, and I think, ultimately, that’s a position where you have a lower body injury, you got to be 100% to be as effective as you want to be.

“This one’s personal to him because he’s from Louisiana, so he’s motivated [to play]. He’s practiced. Is he 100%? We’ll see, but we’re going to do what we’ve done in the past. We’re not going to put him out there until he’s ready.”

Redshirt junior right tackle Damieon George Jr. is also listed as questionable after missing last week’s game.

The Florida defense will remain shorthanded with four starting defensive backs — including both starting cornerbacks — sidelined. Sophomore linebacker Grayson Howard joins them as out for the game.

LSU is be the sixth top-25 opponent Florida will face over its first 10 games this season. The prior five were all ranked in last week’s top 10.