Florida injury report: Philo, Brown, Stockton game-time decisions
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The final SEC availability report for Florida football's Week 7 matchup with the Texas Longhorns was released Saturday morning, with three Gators officially listed as game-time decisions.
Running back Duke Clark remains out and will not be available to play. Quarterback Aaron Philo and wide receivers Vernell Brown III and Bailey Stockton are all listed as game-time decisions ahead of the noon ET kickoff.
Clark suffered a left ankle injury in the first half against South Carolina last Saturday and wore a boot on the sideline in the second half. His injury will likely take multiple weeks to heal.
Philo's status has been one of the biggest questions of the week. CBS Sports' Matt Zenitz reported Wednesday that he had been limited in practice as he recovered from a shoulder injury. Presumably, it occurred on a fourth-quarter scramble against South Carolina last Saturday, after which he was pulled for a play and eventually the game.
Final SEC availability report ahead of the Florida-Texas game has four Gators listed: RB Duke Clark (OUT); WRs Vernell Brown III and Bailey Stockton, QB Aaron Philo (GAME TIME DECISION)
WR Kaliq Lockett and OL Jaydon Chatman (OUT) for the Horns. #GoGatorspic.twitter.com/gskQQ4qnoT
— Adam Dubbin (@AdamDubbin) October 17, 2026
On3's Pete Nakos reported Friday that Florida is expected to start Tramell Jones against Texas, although a final determination on the quarterback situation was expected Saturday morning.
Brown's absence would continue a lengthy stretch on the sideline after he sustained a knee strain against Ole Miss in Week 4. The sophomore standout missed most of that game and both of the past two contests against Missouri and South Carolina.
"VB's trying to play. He's not like, 'I'm going to take the week off' or 'I'm going to take next week.' No, he's trying like hell to play," Florida head coach Jon Sumrall said Monday. "But at the same time, we have to be smart-tough, not dumb-tough."
Stockton's appearance on the availability report is for an undisclosed reason, but he recently sustained a back injury on a targeted hit against Ole Miss. He was listed as questionable ahead of the Missouri game but ended up playing in that road loss as well as the homecoming defeat against South Carolina.
Texas has two players listed on the final report, with wide receiver Kaliq Lockett and offensive lineman Jaydon Chatman both ruled out. Defensive lineman Justus Terry and offensive lineman Jordan Coleman, who appeared on earlier versions of the report, are no longer listed.
Florida's final availability report
- QB Aaron Philo – game-time decision
- WR Vernell Brown III – game-time decision
- WR Bailey Stockton – game-time decision
- RB Duke Clark – out
Texas' final availability report
- WR Kaliq Lockett – out
- OL Jaydon Chatman – out
Designated participation statuses
- Out (0% chance to play)
- Doubtful (25% chance to play)
- Questionable (50% chance to play)
- Probable (75% chance to play)
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Florida injury report: Philo, Brown, Stockton game-time decisions
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