The Florida Gators needed a bye week in the worst way heading into the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail. The walking wounded are starting to come around just in time as the Gators’ enter the home stretch of the season, still atop the SEC East standings.
On Wednesday every player that had been on the injury report during the bye week was a participant in practice, keeping him or her eligible to play in the game this Saturday.
“We had a bunch of guys practice on Wednesday, which you have to practice to be able to play in the game,” Jim McElwain said. “That was really good to see.”
Most notably, Joey Ivie, who hurt his thumb during the Tennessee game, returned to the field this week. Ivie has missed the past two games following surgery but will play this Saturday with a club-like cast/brace on his hand. Ivie has been a full participant in practice this week.
Two more seniors are trying to make it back this week. Bryan Cox is playing with a club on his left hand. Cox hurt his hand during warmups for the Missouri game, something his position coach Chris Rumph doesn’t even have an answer for.
“He just came up to me and said, ‘Coach, I need somebody to go in for me.’ We’re doing our little team stuff and I’m like, ‘What’s wrong?’ He said, ‘I think I hurt my hand, just jammed my hand a little bit,” Rumph said. “’I said, ‘All right,’ and the next thing I know, boom, he’s out. So I’m like, ‘Wow.’ The first time for me it happening something like that, a broken hand or whatever in the pregame.”
Jarrad Davis, a Georgia native, is also trying to make it back for his final foray in the Florida-Georgia game. Davis (knee) was back at practice on Tuesday, but sources told Gator Country that he did not participate in team activities. Davis was able to participate more on Wednesday, a prerequisite for playing.
Give Bryan Cox this, he wrapped that thing up and he’s been in full pads doing everything he can to get out there and get some points for the Gators, which is great to see. I think he’s feeling comfortable with it. That was good.
“This means, this team obviously this game, the last opportunity to play in this game for those guys is something that’s real special and that guy is a real big part of our team. He’ll do anything he can to help us,” said McElwain. “It’s great to see these guys that, you know, want. Sometimes guys get nicked up and it’s kinda like, ‘hey, whoa, I wanna save myself.’ I don’t see that in these guys. I mean, that’s great to see. They want to go play.”
The prognosis for Ivie, Cox, Sherit and Davis looks promising, less so for tight end DeAndre Goolsby. Goolsby (finger) had his finger wrapped heavily on Wednesday and even though McElwain reported that Goolsby has been doing “more than anticipated” in practice, is still questionable this week.
“keeping him or her eligible to play in the game this Saturday.”
Did I miss something, do we have a female player on the team???? :)