Gator Country

Florida Gator quarterback Jeff Driskel speaks with a team doctor after injuring his ankle during Saturday's 27-20 win against Louisiana-Lafayette. / Gator Country photo by Curtiss Bryant

Florida Gators quarterback Jeff Driskel headlined the injury report following Saturday’s 27-20 win against Louisiana-Lafayette at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

The sophomore suffered an ankle injury midway through the third quarter and was replaced by classmate Jacoby Brissett. Driskel had his ankle re-taped and tried to walk on it but was unable to do so without pain.

Driskel was taken to the training room for X-rays, which apparently turned up negative for any fractures.

“No it’s not (broken),” Florida coach Will Muschamp said. “It’s a sprained. I don’t know how severe.”

No. 6 Florida hosts Jacksonville State at 1 p.m. next Saturday before traveling to Florida State for the regular season finale on Nov. 24.

Other than knowing the ankle was not broken, Muschamp was unclear as to the extent of the injury or if it may cause Driskel to miss any additional time.

If it’s a high ankle sprain, he could miss significant time.

“It’s fast down there (on the field), and all they tell me is he’s out,” Muschamp said. “I say, ‘Is he coming back? Right now, no.’

“That’s all I heard. And you move on. We don’t have time to have a debate.”

Both starters on the left side of Florida’s offensive line were sidelined. Left tackle Xavier Nixon did not dress out after attempting to practice on Wednesday and Thursday. Left guard James Wilson dressed out but did not play after trying to work through his injury during pregame. Both have knee injuries and are not able to “press off” of them, Muschamp said.

Linebacker Neiron Ball injured his ankle on the opening kickoff and was not able to return. Ian Silberman, who started at left guard in Wilson’s absence, suffered a shoulder injury as did defensive back Valdez Showers.

As with Driskel, it was too soon for Muschamp to know the extent of the injuries.

“I’m not sure of the severity of any of those, so I’m not certain,” Muschamp said.

Defensive lineman Leon Orr missed last week’s 14-7 win against Missouri after being hospitalized with the flu. As it turns out, it turns out to be worse as he has a kidney infection.

“We will probably get him back in about two and a half weeks,” Muschamp said. “He’ll be ready for the bowl game and all that, but it was a situation that got a little more serious that we thought.”

About the author

MikeCapshaw

Mike’s 15 years in the business has included more than six years of covering SEC sports and recruiting at a daily newspaper in Arkansas. He has also helped launch a newspaper, magazines, websites and even a sports talk radio show. Mike has won Florida Press Association awards for Best Sports Game Story and Best Sports Feature Story in the past two years as well as a company-wide award at his former newspaper group that includes some 60 publications, for Excellence in Sports Reporting.

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