DJ Lagway Injury Update: Reacting to the Latest News on the UF QB (2025)

Florida quarterback DJ Lagway is reportedly dealing with injuries that cast doubt on his status and thus the Gators’ chances of making their first College Football Playoff appearance in 2025.

Lagway is dealing with a shoulder injury and a lower-body injury that have kept him from throwing throughout spring practice, according to a report from USA TODAY’s Matt Hayes. The report cited two anonymous sources that indicated surgery would likely be necessary to address the shoulder injury.

“The hope is offseason rest – as many as six months of non-throwing – will strengthen the shoulder, or at least allow Lagway to play the 2025 season,” Hayes wrote. “He could then have surgery after the season, and be ready for the start of the 2026 season.”

Hayes added that Lagway’s family decided on “rest and rehab” in lieu of surgery, which at this point would jeopardize the quarterback’s 2025 availability.

JP Tillman, Lagway's quarterback coach, offered a rosier outlook in an interview this week with Hightop Sports.

"I talked to him yesterday, he can throw,"Tillman said of Lagway."It's not like he can't throw."

DJ Lagway Injury Update: Reacting to the Latest News on the UF QB (1)

Heading into his sophomore season, Lagway is widely viewed as one of the top quarterbacks in college football. Athlon Sports ranked the former five-star prospect the No. 7 signal-caller in the country in its pre-spring quarterback rankings.

Lagway was a revelation for Florida as a true freshman when injuries to starter Graham Mertz thrust him into the starting job earlier than expected. He set a Gators freshman record in his first start with 456 passing yards against Samford.

When Lagway left the Florida-Georgia game early with a hamstring injury, the Gators led 10-3. He returned a few weeks later to lead the team on a four-game winning streak to end the year, including victories over No. 22 LSU, No. 9 Ole Miss and Tulane in the Gasparilla Bowl.

Lagway’s play — which earned him freshman All-America honors — helped save head coach Billy Napier’s job and powered UF to its first winning season since 2020. With that momentum, the Gators signed their first top-10 recruiting class in five cycles.

Florida is expected to begin next season in the top 25 for the first time since 2021. However, if questions about Lagway’s status persist into the summer, that could throw water on the thought of the Gators as a College Football Playoff contender.

DJ Lagway Injury Update: Reacting to the Latest News on the UF QB (2)

Beyond Lagway, the top options in Florida’s quarterback room are Aidan Warner, who struggled in his lone start against Texas, and recent transfer Harrison Bailey, who is onto his fourth school.

Suddenly, UF could be a team to watch when the spring transfer portal opens up next week. Athlon’s top available signal-caller in the portal is one-time Gators commit Jaden Rashada (Georgia), who is currently suing Napier over the fallout of an NIL deal. Other potential targets could include CJ Ogbonna (Buffalo) and Dylan Rizk (UCF).

Given the recent report about Lagway's status, Athlon senior editor Steven Lassan and senior writer Kyle Wood weighed in on their concern level on the situation:

Lassan: It's absolutely a concern for Florida.Considering the preseason expectations after last year's strong finish on a four-game winning streak, the hot seat under coach Billy Napier, and the overall talent level of Lagway, a lot is riding on the sophomore quarterback this season.

With limited information on Lagway's exact injury, it's tough to gauge just how high the panic meter should be as spring practice winds down in Gainesville. With Lagway stepping into the full-time starting role for the first time, this spring was a vital opportunity to build a strong rapport with the offensive line and skill talent. Instead, Napier and staff will have to wait until the fall to get a full look at how the '25 offense is shaping up.

If Lagway is limited or slowed this fall, a tough schedule with matchups at LSU, Miami, Texas A&M, and Ole Miss, home dates versus Tennessee and Texas, along with the neutral site meeting against Georgia in Jacksonville, suddenly looks even more daunting. The upcoming transfer portal window could be telling. Will Florida look to add another quarterback to fortify depth behind Lagway? The bulk of the transfer movement among quarterbacks usually takes place in the fall window. Finding a high-caliber starter (if Florida needs one) won't be easy.

The concern level should be rising in Gainesville. But I wouldn't hit the panic button just yet.

Wood: It's certainly concerning that Lagway has not thrown yet this spring, which was supposed to be a time for him to build on the foundation of his freshman campaign. These injuries are not only preventing that from happening, but they're also taking away the opportunity for valuable reps withtransfer receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (UCLA) and highly touted freshman Dallas Wilson.

Working in Florida's favor this season is that an FCS opponent comes to town for the season opener, unlike last year when Miami was in The Swamp for Week 1. Warner or Bailey would be able to stand in against Long Island if it comes to that, but the hope in Gainesville is that this situation won't carry over into the regular season.

The Gators return the majority of their offensive line, including All-America center Jake Slaughter, and have assembled an intriguing skill-position group around Lagway. The way Florida played down the stretch in 2024 — particularly on defense — this team should see itself as a playoff contender in 2025. But those expectations quite literally hinge on Lagway's shoulder, so this is something worth monitoring this summer.

The Gators' spring game is set for Saturday. Florida's 2025 season kicks off on Aug. 30 against Long Island University.

DJ Lagway Injury Update: Reacting to the Latest News on the UF QB (2025)

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