Billy Napier reveals how long starting WR Caleb Douglas will be out with injury
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — As the Gators get deeper into their SEC schedule this month, they will be without one of their offensive starters. Florida coach Billy Napier provided an update Monday on sophomore receiver Caleb Douglas.
He left the Kentucky game near the end of the first half with a lower leg injury and did not return. Napier revealed the recovery timeline for Douglas at the end of his press conference on Monday.
“Four to six weeks,” Napier said when asked how long Douglas would be out.
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He was injured making an impressive 34-yard catch, high-pointing the ball over UK junior defensive back Andru Phillips. As Douglas walked into the locker room, it hurt him to put pressure on his left foot and he was upset about the injury.
He spent the second half on crutches with his left leg in a walking boot. Napier addressed Douglas’ status in his post-game press conference.
“Caleb is injured. He’ll be out for a significant chunk of time,” Napier told Gators Online. “He’s got a lower leg injury. I think it’s non-surgical, but it will be quite a bit of time.”
Douglas is the team’s second-leading receiver with 133 yards and a touchdown on 11 catches. His reception Saturday set up Florida’s first score of the game to cut the deficit to 23-7.
Napier also gave the latest Monday on redshirt sophomore receiver Marcus Burke, who’s been out for the last two weeks and also missed the McNeese game.
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“We get Burke back,” Napier said. “Burke was banged up last week. I think that could help.”
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Update on Eugene Wilson III
The Gators were without two starting receivers in the second half following Douglas’ injury. Freshman wideout Eugene Wilson III was expected to return from a collarbone injury that kept him out last week against Charlotte.
Wilson was removed from the injury report on Wednesday night and listed as the starter in the slot. However, Napier revealed after Saturday’s loss that Wilson was scratched from the starting lineup before the game.
“We didn’t feel good about putting him out there,” he said. “We were hopeful that he would be ready. (He had) some contact throughout the week. After evaluating him in pregame, it wasn’t in his best interest as much as maybe he wanted to go. I think we made a decision that he wasn’t ready.”
Wilson ranks third on the team with 104 receiving yards on 12 catches, along with two carries for 27 yards.
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