Josh Pate Reveals Gators’ Careful DJ Lagway Strategy at Fall Practice, but Another Problem Could Be Hurting Them

The Gainesville heat isn’t the only thing making people sweat. DJ Lagway’s name is everywhere, and every Florida Gators fan is watching to see what happens next. The hype around the former five-star freshman quarterback hit a fever pitch in 2024, when clutch performances brought Florida back into the national spotlight.

Now, heading into 2025, everyone wants to know if he can stay healthy and keep the momentum going.

How Will DJ Lagway’s Health and Florida’s WR Injuries Shape the 2025 Gators?

This 2025 season brings more than just hope– it brings real questions. Lagway has been dealing with some minor injuries lately, and the coaching staff has gone out of its way to protect him so he’ll be ready when it counts. But Josh Pate thinks there’s another problem brewing for the Gators: injuries among their wide receivers that could shake up the whole offense.

Lagway missed Saturday’s full scrimmage and was spotted wearing a walking boot during training. Still, he did manage to participate in seven-on-seven drills. Sources say he’s coming back from a calf injury and doesn’t seem quite 100% yet. That’s got fans anxious to see him return and, as most would guess, head coach Billy Napier feels the same way– especially given how much rests on Lagway leading the charge.

The silver lining? Lagway is throwing again, working with both receivers and tight ends, and reportedly sitting at about 75–80% healthy. The staff clearly wants him available for Week 1, and they’re not taking any chances.

Josh Pate recently noted on his show that Florida is managing every step Lagway takes. The goal is simple: make sure he’s ready to go when the season kicks off. There’s reason for optimism with Lagway on the mend, but the Gators have another issue to face. Injuries in the wide receiver room mean the offense may not fire on all cylinders in 2025.

So, DJ Lagway– if you haven’t been following every fall practice update in Gainesville– he’s taken a few hits. He’s worked through a shoulder problem, then a calf injury, so the staff has dialed back his workload. Like Josh Pate said, “It’s not that he couldn’t play a game this week. It’s that they’re handling him for a reason: to get him ready to play games.”

Plus, wide receiver injuries just keep adding up. Pate points out, “I’m thinking about how relatively banged up they’ve been at wide receiver. And what that does is, it doesn’t cross those guys off the list. It’s not like they’re not going to play this year. What it means is, if I’m Florida, I’m losing valuable repetitions that those players would’ve gotten in August.”

Freshman Dallas Wilson suffered a lower leg injury last week during camp, and he had to miss practice on Wednesday, Aug. 6. Details about how serious it is and when he’ll return still aren’t clear. He’s just the latest in a string of Florida receivers dealing with injuries, joining Kahleil Jackson, Aidan Mizell, and Eugene Wilson– each of whom also sat out recent practices.

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This string of absences raises big questions about the Gators’ wide receiver depth. As the offense tries to build around returning quarterback Lagway, the crew is missing out on important reps that could help fine-tune their chemistry and timing.

Last year, Florida had a revolving door at quarterback thanks to injuries. Going into 2025, head coach Napier is putting his confidence in Lagway to steady the offense and lead the team when the season gets rolling.