Florida’s Week 11 SEC availability report picked up one more name Thursday night, with cornerback Dijon Johnson added as doubtful for the Gators’ trip to Kentucky.
Johnson, a fourth-year reserve in Florida’s secondary, has played in six games this season. He has 10 total tackles, including three solo stops and seven assisted tackles, plus an interception and three passes defended. Over 35 career games in Orange and Blue, the Tampa native has totaled 47 tackles, two tackles for loss, two interceptions, six passes defended and a fumble recovery.
He joins a group of Gators already ruled out for Saturday’s SEC matchup in Lexington. Wide receiver Vernell Brown III, safety Bryce Thornton, inside linebacker Jaden Robinson and tight end Evan Chieca will not play.
Brown is set to miss his sixth straight game after suffering a grade-1 PCL strain against Ole Miss in Week 4. That injury was re-aggravated before Florida’s Week 9 game against Georgia. In four appearances before getting sidelined, the second-year receiver caught 17 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Thornton’s injury was not disclosed. He was on the field for 55 of 77 defensive snaps in last week’s loss to Oklahoma. Through eight games this season, the fourth-year defensive back has 28 tackles and three passes defended.
Robinson will also sit out for the third straight game because of an undisclosed injury. The fourth-year inside linebacker has 26 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks and two passes defended in seven appearances this fall.
Florida’s two players listed as questionable are edge defender Kofi Asare and defensive lineman DK Kalu. Asare has played in nine games and has 10 tackles and 0.5 sacks. Kalu has also appeared in nine games, making two starts while recording seven tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and a quarterback hit.
Kentucky’s report was shorter. The Wildcats still have four players listed as out: wide receiver Nic Anderson, inside linebacker Antwan Smith, and defensive backs Jaden Smith and Grant Grayton.
Florida’s Thursday SEC availability report
EDGE Kofi Asare - questionable
DL DK Kalu - questionable
CB Dijon Johnson - out
WR Vernell Brown III - out
TE Evan Chieca - out
LB Jaden Robinson - out
S Bryce Thornton - out
Kentucky’s Thursday SEC availability report
WR Nic Anderson - out
LB Antwan Smith - out
DB Jaden Smith - out
DB Grant Grayton - out
Designated participation statuses
Out (0% chance to play)
Doubtful (25% chance to play)
Questionable (50% chance to play)
Probable (75% chance to play)
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