DJ Lagway update: Florida QB game-time decision vs. Texas

What we know as Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway hopes to play in Saturday's game against Texas as he recovers from a hamstring injury.

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway hopes to play in Saturday's game against the Texas Longhorns. / Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is a game-time decision to play in Saturday’s game against Texas, but he is not expected to be a major contributor on offense, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel.

Lagway has been limited in practice over the past week after sustaining a hamstring injury in last week’s loss against Georgia, and there had been some hope he would be able to return.

But now the opinion on the team is that “barring something unexpected, he’s not expected to have a significant impact on the game,” Thamel reported.

Florida designated Lagway as questionable to appear in the game in the most recent SEC availability report, indicating that he had a 50 percent chance to play, according to the official terminology.

Lagway was carted off the field in the second quarter of last week’s game against the Bulldogs after injuring his hamstring on a run.

He returned to Florida’s sideline in street clothes with his leg wrapped and was using crutches to walk around, leading to speculation that the quarterback’s future availability was in question.

But head coach Billy Napier had provided a more optimistic diagnosis for Lagway during the week, noting that there was a theoretical pathway to recovery for the player to make a return at some point.

“He’s trying,” Napier said after the Gators’ practice on Wednesday.

“He’s a competitor. He’s going back to his home state. He wants to try to find a pathway to make this work. Obviously, it’s touch and go. Look, the guy’s giving it his best shot.”

Now with this most recent news, it appears the quarterback will not be a factor on offense this weekend.

Lagway was already the Gators’ second-string quarterback thrown into starting action after previous starter Graham Mertz was lost for the season with an ACL tear.

In Lagway’s absence, Florida will go with third-stringer and Yale transfer Aidan Warner, who entered last week’s game after Lagway’s departure.

Florida designated running back Montrell Johnson and defensive back Dijon Johnson as questionable to appear in the game on Saturday.

And the Gators listed 12 other players as out for the matchup, most notably wide receiver Eugene Wilson, who will miss the remainder of the season after undergoing hip surgery.

Defensive backs Ja'Keem Jackson, Jason Marshall, Asa Turner, and Devin Moore are listed as out, as is running back Treyaun Webb, and wide receiver Elijah Badger.

Offensive linemen Damieon George and Devon Manuel are out, as is defensive lineman Jamari Lyons.

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How does the SEC football availability report work? 

The initial report is released on the Wednesday night prior to an SEC game with daily updates to follow, culminating in a final injury report 90 minutes prior to kickoff of a Saturday game.

Before gameday, players are designated by their school as available, probable, questionable, doubtful, or out for the game.

On gameday itself, players are designated as available, a game-time decision, or out.

• Out: Will not play, 0% chance
• Doubtful: Unlikely, 25% chance
• Questionable: Uncertain, 50% chance
• Probable: Likely to play, 75% chance

Failure to properly and accurately designate a player on the availability report will subject schools to potential penalties from $25,000 for a first offense to $100,000 for a third and further offense.

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