Eric Singleton Jr.’s status for Florida’s SEC opener at Auburn is trending toward a true game-day call.
The Gators wideout, who is dealing with an ankle injury, is expected to dress and be a game-time decision Saturday, according to ESPN’s Pete Thamel. Singleton Jr. was listed as questionable on Florida’s first SEC availability report of the 2026 season, which gives him a 50 percent chance to play.
That report also put defensive lineman Emmanuel Oyebadejo in the questionable category. Thamel reported that Oyebadejo is expected to be a game-time decision as well. He missed last week’s win over Campbell, just like Singleton Jr.
Head coach Jon Sumrall said Monday that both players had shed their boots and returned to practice, though they were still extremely limited.
"Both were very, very, very limited today in practice but were there. We'll know through the week," Sumrall said.
"I'm not BS-ing you... Is there a shot?
Yes. Am I ready to say they're going to play?
No, because I can't promise you that. But I'm not going to rush either one of them back and them not be right because it's a long season.
Do we want them both to be back? Yeah.
"But at the same time, we got to be smart tough, not dumb tough. And if they're not available, if they're not ready to play the right way for themselves, it's going to hurt the team.
What I don't want to do is put them back in the fray and do something that sets them back further. We'll see as the week goes.
I think we'll have a better idea Wednesday, Thursday, but we'll see."
Singleton Jr. was injured on Florida’s first offensive drive of the season when he got rolled up while lead-blocking on Vernell Brown III’s 40-yard touchdown off a screen pass from Aaron Philo. He did not return in the Gators’ 66-21 win over FAU, which snapped his FBS-leading streak of 37 straight games with a catch.
Offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner said last week the injury hit hard.
"There's probably not anybody as sick as I was in the stadium when he went down, just saw the way it happened," Faulkner said. "All the hard work the kid put in.
He's had a great camp, unbelievable spring. And I know he was really, really looking forward to getting back out here and playing."
Saturday also carries an obvious storyline for Singleton Jr., who played at Auburn last season after transferring from Georgia Tech. He led the Tigers with 58 receptions for 534 yards and three touchdowns, then declared for the 2026 NFL Draft after Auburn’s coaching change from Hugh Freeze to Alex Golesh. He stayed eligible by not signing with an agent, and later transferred to Florida to reunite with Faulkner, inside receivers coach Trent McKnight and outside receivers coach Marcus Davis, all of whom coached him at Auburn.
Singleton Jr. said during spring camp that his one season on the Plains was a "great experience," but he also made clear he wasn’t happy with how the 2025 season went.
"Most definitely," Singleton Jr. said last April after being asked if he had circled Saturday's game on his calendar. "I've circled every game on the calendar. Every game is a big game for me because this is going to be my last season."
If Singleton Jr. can’t go, Florida figures to lean on Bailey Stockton and TJ Abrams, while Vernell Brown III and Dallas Wilson should continue to be featured in the passing game. Brown III had six catches for 117 yards and a touchdown in the win over FAU, and Wilson followed with five catches for 104 yards and a touchdown against Campbell. Micah Mays Jr. and Kahleil Jackson could also see opportunities depending on the formation.
Florida and Auburn will update their availability reports Thursday and Friday at about 8:10 p.m. ET, with gameday reports due around 5:30 p.m.
ET. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
ET on ESPN.
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