Florida QB lag clears minor hurdle, signals season‑ready.
Billy Napier, Florida Receive Positive DJ Lagway News on Thursday originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Coach Billy Napier and the Florida Gators are buoyed by encouraging updates surrounding sophomore quarterback DJ Lagway. A calf strain had sidelined Lagway at the beginning of fall camp, forcing him into a walking boot during practice sessions.
That setback came on the heels of a shoulder issue he had battled through during the spring, raising early concerns about his readiness.
Lagway emerged from Texas high school football as a five‑star recruit, and after a standout freshman season, completing 59.9 percent of his passes for 1,915 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions, he was widely talked about as a potential Heisman contender this year.
The injuries derailed that positive forward momentum but there is a silver lining.
As fall camp progresses, reports indicate Lagway is out of his boot and has resumed moving freely in practice. From Coach Napier’s perspective, Lagway’s recovery appears ahead of schedule, and the injury has been described as non‑serious.
DJ Lagway Injury Update And Progress
Lagway’s calf strain occurred during an early team run, prompting medical staff to place him in a walking boot as a precaution.
In his first year at Florida, he had already dealt with a hamstring injury that cost him a game, then lost spring throwing drills because of a shoulder and sports hernia issue.
DJ Lagway injury update from @ZachAbolverdi:
— Paul Finebaum (@finebaum) July 31, 2025
"He's out of his boot now, he's moving around good at practice....this isn't a major injury...I anticipate him being out there when the Gators open the season."
But Napier emphasized that this current concern is minor. He said Lagway is “day‑to‑day” and has made “quick progress” in recent practices.
From sideline to active practice, the 19-year-old signal-caller is regaining normal movement and is expected to ramp up his workload steadily. The tone from the Gators’ camp is that this is a brief interruption rather than a season‑long setback.
Will DJ Lagway Be Back For The Season Opener For Florida?
Napier and team insiders expect Lagway to be ready for Florida’s season opener on August 30, when the Gators host Long Island.
That final preparation window should give Lagway time to complete recovery and resume full throwing reps. Napier’s confidence stems from Lagway’s leadership off the field, as he has stayed engaged in meetings, maintained a vocal presence in the offense, and remained mentally involved even while sidelined.
With fall camp underway and out of the boot, all indicators point to a normal Week 1 return. If he returns healthy, Florida’s offense can lean on his improved mechanics, decision‑making work and proven experience from 2024, when he led the team to a 6‑1 record in starts and Gasparilla Bowl MVP honors.
Napier’s positive framing reflects broader optimism about the team’s upcoming season. He has touted a confident, competitive roster that is better positioned to handle Florida’s punishing 2025 schedule, which includes matchups at LSU and Miami, as well as home games against Texas and Georgia.
A healthy Lagway is central to those ambitions. The assessment is clear: this injury appears to be a footnote rather than a derailment for Lagway and the Gators. Expect him back under center for the opener as camp unfolds.
Related: Unexpected School Ranks No. 1 on SEC’s Toughest Stadiums List
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 31, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
