UF injuries: No. 8 Gators hopeful WR Vernell Brown III can play at No. 25 Missouri
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GAINESVILLE — Gators coach Jon Sumrall is hopeful leading receiver Vernell Brown III will be available during No. 8 Florida’s visit Saturday at No. 25 Missouri.
Brown injured his right knee while being tackled on a 6-yard run during the second quarter of Florida’s 52-28 win against then-No. 4 Ole Miss. He jogged off the field with a slight limp and did not return while wearing a protective sleeve on his leg.
Sumrall called the injury “nothing serious” and said an MRI did not reveal anything “long term.”
The injury is a low-grade strain, Sumrall said, but Brown’s timeline to return is uncertain.
“Relative to what you could get, we got great news after the imaging and everything,” Sumrall said Monday. “It’s really going to be as much of a pain tolerance and a confidence with him being ready to go.”
“A lot of that’s just how he’s feeling more than anything,” Florida’s coach added. “But medically there’s nothing that’s going to hold him other than his own readiness. We got to see how he responds and how he feels ready to go.”
The Gators (4-0, 2-0 SEC) did not miss a beat against Ole Miss without Brown.
Florida amassed 498 yards and tied the school record for points against a Top 5 foe, matching the 1996 team’s scoring total against Florida State during the national title game.
But Brown would be missed at Missouri, where the Gators have lost three of their past four visits. The 5-foot-11, 178-pound sophomore is a dynamic receiver, particularly after the catch, and leads the team with 17 receptions for 271 yards while scoring twice.
The former Orlando Jones standout is also a dangerous returner. He scored on consecutive punt returns during a Sept. 12 win against Campbell — a feat last performed at Florida in 1996.
Meanwhile, receiver Bailey Stockton will be limited during practice this week. The 5-foot-18, 183-pound Georgia Tech transfer left the Ole Miss game during the first half after he was sandwiched between two tacklers, including safety Joenel Aguero — who was ejected for targeting.
Stockton returned to the game, but suffered a back injury.
“He had basically a car crash on the field,” Sumrall said. “His back is a little bit sore, but there’s nothing structurally wrong.”
With two banged-up receivers, veteran receiver Eric Singleton returned during the second half, playing for the first time since suffering a left ankle sprain while blocking on Brown’s 48-yard touchdown during the seventh play of the Gators’ 66-21 win against Florida Atlantic on Sept. 5 to open the season.
Singleton finished with a 38-yard reception, and also drew a pass-interference penalty that led to Aaron Philo’s 5-yard touchdown pass to Amir Jackson.
Sumrall said Singleton, who transferred from Auburn and has 163 career receptions, should be “full go” this week.
Veteran cornerback Dijon Johnson also suffered an ankle injury against Ole Miss.
“None of those injuries are long-term, catastrophic,” Sumrall said. “All of them, honestly, could be available this weekend.”
On Wednesday, the SEC will release its first availability report for the week.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com
Up next
What: UF (4-0, 2-0) at Missouri (3-1, 0-1)
When: 3:30 p.m., Saturday
Where:Faurot Field, Columbia, Missouri
TV: ABC
Favorite: Florida by 5.5 points
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