DJ Lagway injury update: Billy Napier reveals Florida QB's current health status at SEC Media Day

The Florida Gators are hoping to build on the success they had in 2024 and potentially become competitive in 2025. Of course, much of their ability to do that is going to fall on the shoulders of sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway.

Unfortunately, Lagway has been dealing with some injury issues during the offseason. Those could potentially throw a wrench in the Gators’ season. Luckily, though, as head coach Billy Napier explained at SEC Media Days, Lagway appears to be in good shape.

“DJ has continue — you know, we throw the quarterback three times a week,” Billy Napier said. “He’s continued to do that. He actually got a good session in this morning before he came here. So, we feel confident in terms of him being ready to go.”

This offseason has been a difficult one for Lagway as he’s battled those injury issues. When spring camp opened in March, Florida announced that Lagway wouldn’t be able to throw in the game. At the time, he was dealing with what was described as a lower-body/ shoulder issue.

While Lagway has consistently been around the program, that has led to some concerns about his health and opportunities to develop in the offseason going into his sophomore season. Finally, in late April, Lagway would begin throwing the ball. A month later, his agent, Deiric Jackson, told Gators Online, “His full velocity is back.”

This came after a 2024 season where injuries were a major issue at quarterback for Florida. Returning starter Graham Mertz went down twice, including with a season-ending injury against Tennessee, which forced Lagway into action. However, Lagway himself was banged up against Georgia, costing himself some playing time during the season.

In the end, Lagway would appear in 12 games, completing 59.9% of his passes for 1,915 yards and 12 touchdowns to nine interceptions. He also rushed for 101 yards. Within that season, he flashed the brilliance that made him a five-star recruit. At the same time, he also showed why he hadn’t won the job going into his freshman season and that there’s room for Lagway to improve. That’s been made more difficult by the injury.

The Florida Gators open the season on August 30th against the LIU Sharks. They’ll later begin SEC play with a road trip to Death Valley to play the LSU Tigers on September 13th. That will, of course, be a major test for the Gators’ young quarterback.