Jack Miller on the mend, questionable for Missouri
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Jack Miller has spent the entire 2022 season in the training room and on the sideline. This week, the Gators‘ backup quarterback was on the practice field, in a limited capacity.
“He’s out there at practice. He’s doing all the things outside of the team. We’re doing some things on the side with him, as well,” Napier said on Wednesday. “Balls come out of his hands good. It’s a comfort level. I think there’s some things there from a fatigue rehab standpoint, just getting adjusted, getting back in the groove a little bit. Quite a bit of time away. He’s just sharpening that axe every day, improving, certainly making good progress.”
Prior to the Gators’ game against Tennessee, Napier had provided an update on Miller.
“Jack is still to be determined relative to his role Saturday and potentially going forward. He has made significant progress,” Napier said two weeks ago. “He’s got a football in his hands now. I think it’s just more about his comfort level physically and mentally with the thumb and where it’s at.”
A source told Gators Online that, at that time, Miller wasn’t able to throw a regulation college-size football. The injury to his thumb greatly impacts his grip strength. It’s something say, a cornerback, could have come back from already but, obviously, being Miller’s right throwing thumb, will impact everything he does.
Miller is able to throw a college football now, but he likely won’t be able to suit up this weekend for UF.
Gators name a backup
Without Miller in the fold, the Gators have had an “OR” between Jalen Kitna and walk-on Kyle Engel. Last week against Eastern Washington it was Kitna who replaced Anthony Richardson when the starter went down with a minor injury. Kitna also took over in the second half, finishing the game 8-12 (66.7%) for 152 yards and a touchdown.
“He did a great job. I would say in the last couple of weeks, I’ve become more comfortable with him as a player,” Napier said after the EWU game. “I’m seeing him grow upon a practice setting because you get a million reps as a two the way we do it. He’s a smart kid and he takes a lot of pride in his role. All he does is throw completions.”
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When asked if he will “sleep better at night” after watching Kitna perform well, Napier was quick to call for caution.
“Let’s be careful here. We’ve been through this one time before, I think,” Napier said. “The guy completed some balls today. He also made some mistakes today. The beautiful thing about today is he got to play. He’s going to have more confidence, and he’s going to be able to learn from this experience. He’s going to realize that the work he’s been doing paid off. I’m proud of Jalen. He stepped up in a major way for our team.”
Napier is most likely referring to how the media reacted after Richardson’s first game against Utah. Napier is right, Kitna is a young player. He made his college debut last Sunday and has only thrown 12 career passes against an FCS opponent.
Still, seeing Kitna handle his first playing time the way he did was enough to remove the “or” between himself and Engel, and maybe it’s a backup role he can hold on to the rest of the season.
