When cornerback Chauncey Gardner walked off the field with crutches and a walking boot after Florida’s season opener against Michigan on Saturday, it looked like the Gators’ already young secondary was about to lose one of its more experienced defensive backs.
But after undergoing an MRI this week, UF coach Jim McElwain said Gardner, a sophomore, will be good to go in Florida’s matchup against Northern Colorado on Saturday at noon.
McElwain made it clear Wednesday that he wouldn’t consider sitting Gardner to avoid risking further injury.
“There's no holding anybody out. Guys that are competitors want to play,” McElwain said in a news conference. “I don't understand this mentality of 'I'm going to save myself.’”
On offense, Florida will be down a few pass catchers in Week 2. Freshman receiver James Robinson, who was suspended for the season opener after University Police cited him for possession of marijuana in a dorm room, was slated to return to action this week before it was discovered that he had a heart issue.
McElwain said Robinson didn’t practice Wednesday.
“He had something show up in his echocardiogram, whatever it’s called, which is not good,” McElwain said. “Our specialists at Shands (hospital) will handle exactly what that is. We’ll take every precaution to help him as he moves forward.”
When asked for clarification, McElwain could only say he believes something is wrong with Robinson’s heart.
“I don't know exactly, but it's not a high ankle sprain. I'll tell you that,” he said.
Tight end DeAndre Goolsby, who is listed as a starter along with C'yontai Lewis, is also out for Week 2 with a leg injury.
“I don’t know when he’ll ever be back,” McElwain said.
After a reporter posted that Goolsby would be out indefinitely on Twitter, Goolsby tweeted: “Sheesh, this is news to me.”
Third-string tight end Kemore Gamble missed the season opener with a foot injury, and McElwain said Wednesday that he’ll miss the Northern Colorado game but should be back the following week to play against Tennessee.
Feleipe Franks is expected to start on Saturday, but fourth-string quarterback Kyle Trask had a bolt put in his foot Wednesday morning after rolling his ankle last week in practice. Trask did not dress for the season opener in Arlington, Texas.
You can follow Matt Brannon on Twitter @MattB_727, and contact him at mbrannon@alligator.org.
Junior defensive back Chauncey Gardner-Johnson said that West Virginia transfer is sleeping on his couch. “That’s my boy. Me and him grew up probably like 20 minutes from each other,” he said.
