MIAMI — The last thing you want to have happen during a spring game is injury but that’s exactly what happened to senior defensive end CeCe Jefferson.
Early in the first quarter of the game Jefferson came down awkwardly on his right side and dislocated his shoulder, an injury that required Jefferson to have surgery. Mullen is months away from even starting fall camp, so he isn’t necessarily concerned about Jefferson missing playing time at this point.
“Off the calendar he should be getting back to work during training camp,” Mullen said. “Obviously being a veteran player I’m not going to push or rush him. We’ll see for the opener how it’s going to affect week one or week two of the season.”
Florida will likely start camp in the first week of August but Jefferson, as he said, won’t be rushed back. He’s been in Florida’s system for four years and as a veteran he’s entrusted to do what he needs to do and be ready when his body allows him to return.
Mullen also entrusts the doctors and Nick Savage to take care of Jefferson and get him back as quickly and safely as physically possible.
“They have to work together constantly,” he said of Jefferson, the medical staff and Savage. “One it’s the aspect of what guys can do in training and when they can do with rehab and working those together. They work very, very close together.”
Jefferson will be a pivotal player for the Gators in 2018 and the news that he will be back at 100 percent, even if he misses a game or two, at some point for his senior season is great news for Mullen and the Gators.