The potential return of senior linebacker Jarrad Davis on Saturday is the best injury news UF head coach Jim McElwain has delivered in more than a month. (Photo: Justin Tompkins/For UAA Communications)
Possible Return of Davis Highlights Gators' Injury Report
Thursday, December 1, 2016 | Football, Scott Carter
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The senior linebacker has missed three consecutive games.
By: Scott Carter, Senior Writer
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- The routine is familiar by now.
For the past month, as Gators dropped like dominoes in a Las Vegas casino, UF head coach Jim McElwain reads over his team's lengthy injury report soon after his opening statement at press conferences.
No different on Wednesday after practice. Well, actually, that's not entirely true. Jarrad Davis
There was some good news for a change.
"Jarrad Davis took some reps today and I just can't tell you how much that speaks for him and how much this means to him,'' McElwain said. "It's great to see."
Davis has missed the past three games due to an ankle injury that sidelined him in the final stretch of his UF career. Davis remains second on the team in tackles (56) despite his absence.
His potential return in Saturday's SEC Championship Game against No. 1-ranked Alabama (12-0) is a much-needed boost for the 15th-ranked Gators (8-3) as they prepare to contend with mobile Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts and the league's second-ranked offense (479.6 yards per game).
Davis tested his injured ankle last week prior to Florida's 31-13 loss at Florida State but was not ready to play.
Florida played without six regular starters on defense at FSU: Davis, linebacker Alex Anzalone (arm), safeties Marcus Maye (arm) and Nick Washington (ankle), and defensive linemen Byran Cox Jr. (leg) and Jordan Sherit (season-ending knee injury during the game).
"Obviously, we'd love to go into this one with all those guys,'' McElwain said. "But having JD out at practice was really good."
If Davis is available Saturday, how much he plays remains uncertain.
"If you can give the team one play, whatever that play might be, that's what it's all about,'' McElwain said. "We've got some guys that are trying everything they can to get out there."
Of course, McElwain also delivered some bad news on the injury front.
Six-foot-6, 311-pound offensive lineman Fred Johnson was hurt this week in a scooter accident. Johnson practiced Tuesday and met with local media afterward, but by Wednesday his fortunes had taken a wrong turn.
"I'd love to say he got hurt in battle,'' McElwain said. "That's a big body falling off a scooter and we'll see where that goes."
McElwain did not specify Johnson's injury, but in Florida's season of soreness, a photo of Johnson in a body cast today would not be that surprising.
