Billy Napier provides updated timeline on Jack Miller's return from injury

Heading into Week 3 of the college football season, Florida Gators head coach Billy Napier provided an update on injured quarterback Jack Miller. Miller suffered an injury to a ligament in his thumb, which required surgery during fall camp.

“Jack is making progress, he’s not quite ready for action,” Napier said during his press conference on Monday. “He’s getting closer, he’s moved into the next stage there for return to play.”

Napier also told reporters that he’d share updates on other injured Gators on Wednesday.

Napier previously compared Miller’s injury to one former Saints QB Drew Brees had in 2019. It is commonly known as “skier’s thumb.” The typical timetable for recovery following surgery is 5-6 weeks. Miller had surgery in mid-August, putting his return timeline around Week 3 or Week 4.

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Miller began his collegiate career at Ohio State as part of the 2020 recruiting class. He was rated as a four-star recruit and the No. 26 quarterback in the 2020 class, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

During the spring game, prior to his injury, the former Buckeye went 13-of-23 for 121 yards and one interception.

Florida suffers injuries to two key starters versus Kentucky

The Florida Gators lost to Kentucky on Saturday and now, fans are waiting to hear the diagnosis for two starters who left the game due to injury.

Starting right tackle Michael Tarquin left the game with an apparent lower leg injury in the first half. In the second half, linebacker Ventrell Miller left the game as well, also with a leg injury.

“Ventrell’s a little bit banged up. We’ll have an update for you next week,” Billy Napier said after the game. “Obviously two injuries in the game with Ventrell and Mike Tarquin. Both are lower leg injuries. We’ll give you that information later next week.”

Miller is a sixth-year senior who missed most of the 2021 season with a torn biceps. He’s a leader on and off the field and a player the Gators need to anchor their defense.

“Ventrell is the quarterback of the defense. He’s very vocal, so that makes it very difficult for us to play without him on defense,” DL Gervon Dexter said after the game. “He communicates well and does a lot of things well. It is kind of like losing your heart.”

The Gators take on USF on Saturday night, again at home in the Swamp. South Florida is 1-1 on the year after beating Howard 42-20 in Week 2. They started the season with a 51-20 loss to BYU.