Florida WR Caleb Douglas out 'a significant amount of time' with lower leg injury

On3-Social-Profile_GRAYby:On3 Staff Report•09/30/23

Florida receiver Caleb Douglas will be out a significant amount of time after suffering a lower leg injury following a catch in a 33-14 loss to Kentucky, according to coach Billy Napier.

The Orlando Sentinel’s Edgar Thompson reported the news from Napier’s postgame press conference in Lexington, Ky.

Douglas was injured late in the second quarter when he caught a 34-yard pass down the right sideline from quarterback Graham Mertz. As he came down with the ball, he was tackled by Kentucky’s Andru Phillips, and his leg twisted under Phillips.

The Florida sophomore was helped off the field and into the locker room, where he was reportedly set to undergo X-rays.

That Napier is already ruling out for a significant amount of time likely indicates those X-rays turned up some damage, though it’s unclear what exactly Douglas injured.

Caleb Douglas had recorded 11 catches for 133 yards and a touchdown during the 2023 season so far.

Florida unable to stop Ray Davis

While a lot of things went wrong for Florida on Saturday, the most simple explanation for the lopsided loss was that Florida couldn’t stop Kentucky running back Ray Davis.

The Wildcats rushed for 329 yards against the Gators, with Davis accumulating 280 of those. Afterwards, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops spoke with ESPN’s Katie George, where he elaborated on Kentucky’s performance as a whole.

“I loved the way we started. I thought we started extremely fast. Physical on both sides of the line-of-scrimmage,” Stoops said. “Obviously had some explosive runs and plays in the first half. Slowed down a little bit in the second half, but you knew that Gators were going to fight back. That’s what’s going to happen.”

As for his running back, the Wildcats leader had nothing but love for Davis’ amazing statistical afternoon against an SEC rival.

“He was special today. He’s been special,” Stoops said, regarding Davis. “To get those kind of impressive runs against the Gators, with the way he runs it and then the receiving yards, you know he deserves a lot of credit. I’ll let you talk to him. He’s a baller.”