DJ Lagway injury update: ESPN's Heather Dinich shares statement on Florida QB from school spokesman

The health of Florida QB DJ Lagway is still the biggest story out of Gainesville, with the Gators’ quarterback already dealing with yet another injury. Still, the latest out of The Swamp is positive when it comes to his status coming into the first weekend of fall camp.

ESPN’s Heather Dinich appeared on ‘SportsCenter’ on Friday and discussed Lagway’s condition. She, as already noted by GatorsOnline’s Zach Abolverdi on Thursday, said she had just spoken to a spokesperson at the school this morning, who said Lagway is now out of the boot he was in to deal with a calf strain and is day-to-day at practice. That’s good, but it still only does so much for now when it comes to the injury concerns about him.

“They need to keep DJ Lagway, their quarterback, healthy and, so far, that’s not going the right direction. They started practice on Wednesday and Lagway was in a boot with a strained calf. But, a school spokesman told me just minutes ago that Lagway is out of the boot,” Dinich said. “He’s trending in the right direction, he’s trending positively. He’s still day-to-day, though.

“I had the chance to talk to him at SEC Media Days and he talked about his durability and said it wasn’t going to be a problem. And yet he’s started out his summer practices on the sidelines.”

It was reported and revealed this week that Lagway was dealing with a calf strain coming into the start of their fall camp on Wednesday. That’s on top of, just since becoming the starter mid-way through last season for the team, a hamstring injury he had in November, before a shoulder injury he dealt with during their spring period through March and April. That has all limited his development and opportunities to some extent as he goes into his second collegiate season and first as a full-time starter this fall.

While considering what else the Gators have on the roster, the conversation this season around Florida kind of starts and ends with Lagway. That’s why his health, especially within the context of the issues he’s had over the last year, is first and foremost, as it can be the difference in Florida’s season, even to the top end of being in contention for the CFP.

“Florida has the most difficult schedule in the country and, if they’re going to survive that, compete for the SEC and one of those at-large bids in the College Football Playoff, Lagway’s health is of the utmost importance,” Dinich said.