Florida starting tight end Keon Zipperer spotted at practice on crutches

A Florida starter is not practicing during the team’s open practice on Saturday, with tight end Keon Zipperer spotted on crutches in one corner of the end zone during practice.

According to Mark Wheeler of Inside The Gators, Zipperer posted on Instagram from a hospital room recently.

He was not mentioned in head coach Billy Napier‘s injury report earlier this week but has been a major contributor for the team in the past.

Zipperer is entering his fifth season at Florida, having logged 38 career catches for 486 yards and four touchdowns. In the 2022 campaign, he tallied 13 catches for 177 yards and a touchdown.

Florida has found it difficult to replace former star Kyle Pitts‘ production following the 2020 campaign, and Zipperer is the lone pure tight end holdover from that era.

Zipperer would be competing for snaps primarily with redshirt freshman Arlis Boardingham, who is viewed as a bit more of a pass-catching threat thanks to his athleticism.

But other tight ends in the mix have been Jonathan Odom and Dante Zanders, two more veteran players. Odom is working his way back from a serious knee injury suffered in the team’s bowl game in December. Zanders is a converted defensive end, though he was originally recruited to the program as a tight end.

Redshirt freshmen Andrew Savaiinaea and Hayden Hansen are both on the roster as well, so numbers shouldn’t be a problem if Keon Zipperer is out for any extended period, just experience.

Florida will have its work cut out for it offensively as is.

Gone is top-five NFL Draft pick Anthony Richardson at quarterback, as well as veteran receiver Justin Shorter. Even with those two the team’s offense was just a little above average a year ago.

Florida ranked 36th in total offense (424.1 yards per game) and 56th in scoring offense (29.5 points per game). But it was the passing game that pulled up the rear, with the team finishing 76th nationally (223.8 yards per game).

A wideout corps that doesn’t have many standouts — veteran Arizona State transfer Ricky Pearsall is close — also didn’t help matters.

So whether it’s Keon Zipperer or one of the other pass-catchers, the Gators will be looking for a considerable boost in production this fall.