Eric Singleton Jr.’s return is edging closer for Florida, but the Gators are still treating it like a wait-and-see situation.
After sitting out the last two games with an ankle injury, the wide receiver will remain a game-time decision for Saturday’s matchup with Ole Miss, head coach Jon Sumrall said Monday. Singleton warmed up before Florida’s win over Auburn but ultimately did not play, and the team is taking the same cautious approach this week.
“He did a little bit more today than he's done,” Sumrall said. “He'll probably get to do that all week, and then Saturday we’ll warm him up and if he is great, we're going to play. If it's like, ‘Man, I'm not feeling good cutting or I don't feel like I can hold up,’ then I'll say, ‘Hey, man, enjoy watching the game.’”
Florida will issue availability reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday around 8:10 p.m., then another pregame report Saturday at 2 p.m.
Singleton’s injury has lingered since the season opener against FAU, when he was hurt while lead-blocking for Vernell Brown III on a screen pass on Florida’s first offensive drive. He later appeared in a boot the next week against Campbell and was a game-time decision before the Auburn game.
Sumrall said Florida could have pushed him against the Tigers, but chose not to.
“He maybe could have gone, but I wasn't going to let his desire to play in that situation override common sense. Common sense has to prevail,” Sumrall said. “You force a guy like that back too soon with his skill set, and then something bad happens that we could have avoided, and then you set him back four more weeks.”
Even without Singleton, Florida has gotten production from Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson. Brown has 14 catches for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while Wilson has 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. Bailey Stockton and TJ Abrams have also helped provide depth, with Micah Mays Jr. and Kahleil Jackson adding more options.
Singleton has still found a way to make an impact from the sideline. Sumrall said he earned the team’s internal weekly spirit award for his energy and support.
“We give out an award each week to the guy on the team that has the best spirit in the game that’s got great energy and great juice. He was that award winner internally with our team this week because his sideline engagement, his encouragement with teammates was phenomenal,” Sumrall said. “Great teammate, man.”
Florida would clearly like to have him back for a home game against No. 4 Ole Miss, which just beat top-10 LSU last weekend.
“He may come back when he's right,” Sumrall said. “You never know what's going to happen with a guy, but we're going to make good, educated decisions about his return.
He will have a shot. I mean, he was questionable, game-time decision last week.
That's what he is at worst this week.”
Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on ABC.
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