After recovering from a shoulder injury that limited him during spring practice, Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is now contending with a lower body injury that necessitates wearing a walking boot ahead of the Gators’ fall camp, sources confirmed with CBS Sports’ Richard Johnson.

The extent of Lagway’s injury is currently unclear, and there is no timeline for his return to action. The Gators were eager to see their former five-star recruit back on the field after he couldn’t throw passes in spring practice due to his shoulder issue.

Furthermore, Lagway faced another minor undisclosed lower body injury, which was reportedly dealt with earlier this offseason. At SEC Media Days, Lagway described it as one of the “[nooks] and crannies, little things that lingered during the season.”
Translation: Lagway mentioned that he dealt with small, lingering issues through the last season.

It is hoped that this newest injury is not serious and that Lagway will return well before Florida’s Week 1 game against Long Island. The Gators will heavily rely on Lagway’s performance this fall, with many believing that if healthy, he could lead them as potential darkhorse candidates for the SEC Championship Game.

Last season, Lagway stepped in for starter Graham Mertz when he was injured. Despite some challenges, including completing under 60% of his passes with nine interceptions and 12 touchdowns, Lagway showcased the potential that made him one of the top talents from the 2024 signing class. Heading into the 2025 season, Lagway is seen as a probable Heisman contender with +2500 odds to win the award at FanDuel.

Should Lagway miss a significant amount of time, Florida’s circumstances grow bleak. Most likely, Louisville transfer Harrison Bailey and Yale transfer Aidan Warner would compete for the starting position.

Bailey, who also played for Tennessee and UNLV, has not secured a starting role throughout five seasons of college football, having attempted only 171 passes in that span.
Warner is the only quarterback on the roster other than Lagway who threw passes for the Gators last season. In a game against Texas, when both Lagway and Mertz were absent, Warner started but the Gators lost 49-17; he completed 12 of 25 passes for 132 yards and two interceptions.

With matchups against LIU and USF in the opening weeks, Florida might choose to hold Lagway out or allow him a gradual return. However, they will face a challenging stretch, including road games against LSU, Miami and Texas A&M along with a home game against Texas within five weeks.