Andre Debose is finding out that time does not heal all wounds.
Sometimes wounds require surgery.
Although no official decision had been made Monday afternoon, Debose and coach Urban Meyer were considering surgery.
The freshman wide receiver and Meyer planned to consult head team physician Dr. Pete Indelicato on Monday and talk with his parents about what they needed to do to fix his hamstring.
"It certainly isn't a career-ending injury, but it's just do you fix it or give it time?" Meyer said. "He has had a lot of time. A decision is going to be made in the next 24 hours."
Meyer said the injury resembles the one suffered by Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray, who needed surgery to repair a partially torn tendon in his hamstring before the 2009 BCS Championship Game.
"I know that injury is tough to recover from," said running back Jeff Demps, who suffered from a strained hamstring during the spring track season but did not need surgery. "I heard he might have to have surgery. If he can do that and get healthy, then I'd tell him to do it. But other than that, just keep getting treatment and just try and prepare that hamstring."
Debose was expected to see playing time this season to help fill the role of Percy Harvin.
Without Debose, another inexperienced receiver will need to improve to give Florida depth at the position. Redshirt senior David Nelson specifically targeted redshirt freshmen Frankie Hammond Jr. and T.J. Lawrence as wideouts the Gators need to step up this fall.
Nelson has been serving as a mentor to Debose, who was at practice Monday but did not participate.
"He knows that injuries happen, and he knows that it's so early in his career that he's able to sit back and watch and learn and be able to get some mental reps," Nelson said. "He's in high spirits right now until they actually decide what they're going to do.
"He's just waiting for the final word."
