Florida Gators Lose Starting Quarterback To Collarbone Injury Ahead Of Rivalry Game Against FSU
No matter the situation or severity, injuries in sports flat-out suck. At the same time, they can't be avoided during the heated nature of competition, especially in the physical game that is football.
A pair of injuries suffered by the starting quarterbacks for Florida State and Florida over the weekend figure to make a large impact on the looming annual rivalry game. The Seminoles saw Jordan Travis carted off in the first quarter of a win over North Alabama with what appeared to be a serious left ankle injury. An air cast was applied to his leg and he was taken to the hospital.
Later in the evening, the Gators lost transfer signal-caller Graham Mertz to a collarbone injury while trying to upset Missouri on the road. Mertz lowered his shoulder to run through a defender and took another shot while fighting for a first down. He ended up exiting to the locker room as redshirt freshman Max Brown replaced him for the remainder of the game.
Following the heartbreaking loss to the Tigers, head coach Billy Napier announced that Mertz had suffered a 'non-displaced' collarbone fracture. The Gators are in the process of determining if he'll need surgery.
“Graham has a non-displaced fracture of the collarbone. So, he’ll be out for a little bit," Napier said after the game according to All Gators. "Probably, we’ll have more information whether it’s surgical or not. I think right now the belief is that it may not be. We’ll need to get more images before we make that decision.”
It's not immediately clear if Mertz will be able to suit up when the Seminoles travel to Gainesville next weekend. The injury did occur on his non-throwing shoulder.
“Uh, we’ll see. I’ll let you know Monday. I don’t want to speak on something when I don’t have 100% of the facts. I just know that he’s unavailable. We think it’s a pretty significant injury," Napier said. "I can give you a more specific timeline Monday. Give Max some credit. Max settled in there a little bit and made a few plays. Obviously he’s a good athlete and we were able to use his legs a little bit in the read game. He made some throws, as well. Max has worked hard. I can’t talk enough about how much improvement since the first day he got there. And he’s a competitor. I think ultimately he showed that.”
Brown completed 4/5 passes for 56 yards while rushing seven times for 42 yards in the defeat. He led the Gators to two scoring drives but did have a crucial fumble that led to a touchdown for Missouri.
During his career at Florida, Brown has completed 10/12 passes for 106 yards. He's rushed eight times for 42 yards. Napier believes his performance against the Tigers could be beneficial if he's pushed into action against Florida State.
"Well, he just played against the No. 9 team in the country on the road, so he'll be a lot more prepared rather than not doing it. Look, Max is a worker. He'll start when he gets back Sunday. We've got a routine for the quarterback, it's worked in the past," Napier said. "We'll play to his strengths and, you know, there will be some confidence he can get from tonight after moving the team a little bit and making a handful of plays, and there'll be things that he learned from tonight that he can do better. And I can tell you this, I think the players will rally around the situation. You know, I thought you saw a little bit of that tonight if that makes sense. So, you know, Max has the respect of the team because he works his butt off and he's consistent. He's got character. So, what a tremendous opportunity for a young player."
The Seminoles and Gators will match up on Saturday, November 25. Florida will have to defeat FSU to qualify for bowl eligibility. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. and the rivalry contest will be televised on ESPN.
READ MORE: Mike Norvell Comments On Jordan Travis' Leg Injury Following FSU's Win Over North Alabama
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