The Florida Gators will likely be without starting inside linebacker Alex Anzalone when they travel to Lexington this Saturday to take on the Kentucky Wildcats.
“I would say very doubtful on Anzalone,” McElwain said. “That’s a reoccurrence of a pre-existing injury that he’d had for a couple years. So definitely probably doubtful to out in that case.”
Anzalone, who stepped up into a starting role while Antonio Morrison missed most of the offseason following knee surgery, had taken on a role as the leader of the Florida Gators defense. Anzalone totaled five tackles in the season opener and one more tackle against East Carolina before leaving with the shoulder injury in the second quarter.
Anzalone tore his labrum when he enrolled early as a freshman and missed the entirety of spring but was able to return to the team and play in the fall. McElwain has said that Anzalone’s injury this time around is the same as it was two years ago. The linebacker already wore a bulky brace on his shoulder since the first injury and with his status for the season still up in the air the Florida Gators will need to find a way to replace his leadership and play on the field.