Florida could be without starting quarterback Aaron Philo this Saturday when they roll into Austin to face No. 7 Texas. Yeah, you read that right. The Gators’ main man has been dealing with a shoulder injury and has been limited in practice all week, according to someone close to the situation who spoke to The Associated Press.
The QB Mystery Before Kickoff
This isn’t just some minor ding, either. The person spilling the tea did so anonymously because Philo and the Gators haven’t said a word publicly about the injury. But don’t be surprised when Philo gets officially tagged as questionable on the SEC’s injury report later today. If he can’t go, it’s sophomore Tramell Jones who’d be stepping up for his first career start. Jones battled Philo for that top spot in training camp and ultimately lost out, so this would be a real trial by fire against a top-10 squad.
Philo’s Season So Far, And Jones’s Limited Look
Philo’s numbers this season have been solid, no doubt. He’s completed 70.5% of his passes for 1,341 yards, tossing nine touchdowns against just three interceptions. You want your starter doing that. But his last outing against South Carolina, a 38-19 home loss, wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. He went 21 of 28 for 227 yards with one touchdown and one interception, plus he ran a career-high 13 times for 32 yards and got sacked three times. That’s a lot of hits for a guy now dealing with a shoulder issue, huh? Meanwhile, Jones has seen action in five games this year, putting up 252 yards, two TDs, and two INTs. It’s not a huge sample size, but it’s what they’ve got to work with.
Can Florida Avoid History Repeating?
The Gators are sitting at 4-2 overall and 2-2 in the SEC, so this game against No. 7 Texas is massive. And get this: the last time Florida was in Austin back in 2024, they were *also* forced to start a backup QB, Aidan Warner, because starter DJ Lagway was hurt. That game? A brutal 49-17 loss where Warner threw for 132 yards with two interceptions on 12 of 25 passing. Talk about a bad omen if Jones has to take the reins. All eyes are on that injury report and whether Philo can somehow suit up, because a backup in Austin against a top-10 team has not gone well for Florida before. We’ll see if they can flip the script this Saturday.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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