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J.Michael Sturdivant injury update: Florida playmaker taken to locker room

IMG_0985by: Griffin McVeigh16 hours agogriffin_mcveigh
NCAA Football: LIU at Florida
Aug 30, 2025; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators wide receiver J. Michael Sturdivant (9) pushes off Long Island Sharks defensive back Deuce Cooper (2) during the first half at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images

Florida finds itself in a surprise comeback attempt against Miami to start the fourth quarter. Before the break, the Gators lost J.Michael Strudivant due to an injury. It appears as if they will have to deal without the wide receiver moving forward.

The injury took place on a critical fourth-down play for Florida, resulting in a first down. Strudivant made a catch but was quickly leveled by a Miami defender. He stayed down on the ground, getting trainers out to check up on him. If there is any good news on the situation, Strudivant eventually got up on his feet.

However, trainers did not take him back to the Florida sideline. Strudivant went straight to the Florida locker room without his helmet on. To this point, there has been no update on Strudivant’s status by the ESPN broadcast.

Not what head coach Billy Napier needed at this moment, seeing one of the more experienced receivers on the roster leave the game. Thankfully, the position room is considered a strong one, meaning there are plenty of options out there.

Strudivant leaves the game with only one reception to his name. As mentioned, the importance level of the catch magnifies the play — moving the chains for Florida when they had no other option. DJ Lagway zipped one in there, showing progress himself after last week’s tough performance against LSU.

ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit speaks on early struggles for Florida Q DJ Lagway

Disappointing play from quarterback DJ Lagway has been a major factor in Florida’s start to the season, as he has thrown six interceptions to just five touchdowns. Five of these six interceptions came in the Gators’ 20-10 loss to LSU last Saturday.

Lagway, who was limited in practice this offseason with a shoulder injury, just hasn’t seemed to be playing at the level he was expected to. ESPN‘s Kirk Herbstreit blamed the lack of practice time for Lagway’s struggles during Saturday night’s game against No. 4 Miami.

“DJ Lagway is a very, very talented guy who had a bunch of injuries and missed spring football and most of camp,” Herbstreit said during the Florida-Miami broadcast. “This week was his fifth week of practice since January. As good as he is, quarterbacks have to have reps in practice. You have to get your timing down with your skill guys. When you see balls sail like that, it’s still him trying to find that rhythm.”

On3’s Daniel Hager contributed to this report