Graham Mertz injury: Gators QB limps off the field with a non-contact injury

Florida quarterback Graham Mertz had just made his best throw of the night Tennesseefinally a touchdown on the board. Arlis Boardingham was on the receiving end, extending the Gators’ lead to 10 in front of a stunned Neyland Stadium. A great moment for Mertz and the entire offense, until disaster somehow struck.

Mertz had released the ball and jumped sideways off a Tennessee defender as he watched the play unfold. After a few jumps, he suddenly grabbed his right knee and was immediately in pain. Mertz fell to the ground for a brief second and eventually staggered off the field.

Once on the sidelines, his helmet flew around in frustration. A scary moment for Mertz as no one was around at the time, which appeared to be a non-contractual injury.

ESPN went straight to commercial, but when they came back they showed video of the Florida QB limping into the blue medical tent.

Fortunately for Florida, there is confidence in something DJ Laway is able to do. Head coach Billy Napier throws him every third drive in the game anyway. Not the traditional backup situation that most college football programs find themselves in. Either way, asking a true freshman to win at Neyland Stadium is a tall order.

“It looks like this will be his ballgame,” ESPN’s Kris Budden said of Lagway late in the third quarter. “Because Graham Mertz is in the locker room.”

When Mertz is officially done, he will end the day completing 11 of 15 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown. While not much has gone right for Florida in recent seasons, Mertz has been a consistent player for the Gators.

Questions will be asked about his long-term status at Napier’s post-match press conference. He hopes to have a win in his back pocket when answering those questions and will ride with Lagway the rest of the way.