Florida Gators Face Quarterback Crisis as DJ Lagway Injured, Graham Mertz Already Out for Season

Florida Gators quarterback DJ Lagway was carted off the field during the second quarter of the rivalry game against the Georgia Bulldogs due to an apparent hamstring injury. This setback comes at a critical time for the Gators, who are already without their starting quarterback Graham Mertz. Mertz suffered a season-ending injury when he tore his ACL in a loss against Tennessee on October 12.

Lagway, a true freshman, had recently taken over the starting role and led the Gators to a 48-20 victory over Kentucky in his first career start. However, his injury against Georgia forced the team to rely on third-string quarterback Aidan Warner, a walk-on who previously played for Yale.

Before his injury, Lagway had managed to complete 2 of 6 passes for 47 yards and a touchdown, and also rushed for 18 yards. The Gators were leading 10-3 at the time of his departure. The loss of Lagway is a significant blow to Florida’s offensive production, especially given the strong defensive presence of the Georgia Bulldogs.

Graham Mertz’s absence has already been felt, and now with Lagway’s injury, the Gators face a challenging situation in terms of quarterback depth and stability. The team’s ability to adapt and perform without their top quarterbacks will be crucial in the remainder of the season.