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Graham Mertz injury update: Billy Napier asked about quarterback after Tennessee loss

Untitled designby:Nick de la Torre•about 13 hours•

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Oct 12, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) audibles against the Tennessee Volunteerss at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Oct 12, 2024; Knoxville, Tennessee, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) audibles against the Tennessee Volunteerss at Neyland Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brianna Paciorka/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Florida starting quarterback Graham Mertz left Florida’s 23-17 loss to the Tennessee Volunteers with an apparent knee injury and was unable to return to the game. Florida head coach Billy Napier was asked about Mertz after the game

“Obviously Graham played phenomenal in the game. I thought he was lights out. Really prepared well and came to play,” Napier said after the game. “He does have an injury, a lower-body injury. Obviously, we’ll give you some updates on that when we get to next week. It was significant enough that he couldn’t complete the game.”

Mertz was playing well on the road in front of more than 101,000 at Neyland Stadium. Mertz threw a touchdown pass to Arlis Boardingham and while backing away from Tennessee defenders, pulled up. He fell to the turf in obvious pain. While Mertz was able to walk off the field on his own power, he had a noticeable limp. Mertz was taken into the injury tent where he was checked out by doctors.

After a brief time in the tent on the sideline, Mertz limped back to the visiting locker room with Florida’s head trainer. Mertz returned to the sideline with his left knee in a brace and on crutches during the fourth quarter.

Here’s the play that Mertz was injured on.

Without Graham Mertz, the Gators will turn to DJ Lagway

To Billy Napier’s credit, the head coach has made a point to get his five-star freshman experience. Lagway has played in every game and started the second game of the season against the Samford Bulldogs.

Prior to the Tennessee game, Lagway had completed 38-of-55 pass attempts for a team-high 667 yards, four touchdowns and three interceptions.

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“Graham getting banged up was a big part of the game and then DJ obviously rose to the occasion and got us back in it there with a big throw at the end to tie it up,” Napier said. “We left a lot of opportunities on the field in the first half in terms of points and, ultimately this was one of those games where the margin was really small. Our staff have the team ready to play, they had good plans, I think that our kids fought their tail off. I have a ton of respect for that.

Playing in front of 101,915 at Neyland Stadium, Lagway completed 9-of-17 (53%) of his passes with one touchdown and one interception. This pass from Lagway was exceptional.

If Mertz is unable to play, which based on how he left the game and appeared on the sideline with a brace and on crutches, seems likely he won’t, it’ll be Lagway in the spotlight.

“One of the things about DJ that I respect is that as a competitor he has this unique ability to raise his level of play at critical moments,” Napier said. “I think you obviously not only picked the right route progression but had to move and threw a strike in a critical moment. And, look, I thought he even did some of his more impressive stuff in the first half when he was playing. I thought he did a lot of really good things. For a rookie to go, play on the road in that environment, to step up in a big time, big moment. He’s got that in his DNA. There’s a bright future ahead of it for him.”

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