Florida football injury updates for WR Vernell Brown III, DT Caleb Banks before Tennessee game

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Florida football interim coach Billy Gonzales provided updates on two key UF players heading into its matchup with No. 20 Tennessee on Nov. 22 at The Swamp (7:30 p.m., ABC).

Wide receiver Vernell Brown III and defensive tackle Caleb Banks were both listed as game-time decisions when the Florida Gators (3-7, 2-5 SEC) played at No. 7 Ole Miss on Nov. 15. But neither one played.

Brown, who went through pregame warmups against Ole Miss, has missed two of UF's last three games after suffering a shoulder sprain on Oct. 19 against Mississippi State. He made one catch for 22 yards on Nov. 8 against Kentucky.

Despite missing two of UF's last three games, Brown, a true freshman, still leads the Gators in receptions (33) and receiving yards (473). He's started in six of 10 games this season.

"He's a tough young man," Gonzales said. "And (will) try to go again this week. One of the things as a receiver coach, you want to make sure if a receiver can't lift his hands up consistently, go get the ball, then you just got to make sure that you're taking care of him, trying to get healthy for the next game. Same thing, same plan for him is to continue to try to get out there."

The 6-foot-6, 330-pound Banks, a preseason All-SEC defensive tackle, suffered a foot injury in fall camp and underwent surgery on his foot after appearing in just one game on Sept. 13 against LSU. In 2024, Banks put together a breakout junior season that included seven tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks.

Like Brown, Banks took part in pregame warmups against Ole Miss.

“He started practicing last week," Gonzales said. "He went through, I want to say, I was talking with coach about this. I think he somewhere around 25 reps or so last Wednesday in that return to play area. Again, the plan is to get him those reps, get him in Saturday."

Kevin Brockway is The Gainesville Sun’s Florida beat writer. Contact him at kbrockway@gannett.com. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1. Read his coverage of the Gators’ national championship basketball season in “CHOMP-IONS!” — a hardcover coffee-table collector’s book from The Sun. Details at Florida.ChampsBook.com

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Latest Florida football injury updates for starting WR, All-SEC DT

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