After a disappointing start to the 2024 college football season, the Florida Gators' road does not get more manageable. They will be without two of their best players for the next several weeks.
Sophomore star wide receiver Eugene Wilson III underwent surgery this week, per OnlyGators.com.
Wilson was injured during Florida's 45-7 win over Samford. He practiced before the Texas A&M game last week and was marked a "game-time decision." He did not play against the Aggies and was listed "out" on the Wednesday injury report for this week's road matchup with Mississippi State.
Before suffering the injury vs Samford, Wilson totaled 13 receptions for 191 yards and a touchdown in two starts.
Wilson's timetable to return is unclear at this time, but expect him to be out for several weeks while rehabbing from surgery.
The Gators are beat up at receiver, as redshirt junior Kahleil Jackson and senior Ja'Quavion Fraziars are also injured.
Wide receivers Elijah Badger and Chimere Dike saw an uptick in snaps in Wilson's absence, which will continue. Redshirt freshman Aidan Mizell also saw an increase in snaps; the Gators hope his versatility on jet sweeps and Badjer's YAC ability can replace Wilson's production in the aggregate.
Elijah Badger is a similar archetype of receiver to Wilson. In three games thus far, Badger has totaled 11 receptions for 260 yards and a touchdown.
Senior defensive lineman Joey Slackman also underwent surgery this week. Slackman missed the Samford and Texas A&M games, reportedly undergoing an arthroscopic procedure on a torn meniscus.
Although Billy Napier praised Slackman throughout the offseason, the Gators now find themselves thin in the trenches with redshirt sophomore Jamari Lyons out for the season and freshman Michai Boireau out indefinitely.
The injury bug extends into the secondary. Redshirt senior safety Asa Turner suffered a non-contact injury in the late minutes against Miami and has been sidelined since. Sophomore Ja'Keem Jackson and redshirt freshman Aaron Gates will also be sidelined up vs. Mississippi State.
The Florida Gators will play Mississippi State in Starkville on Saturday at noon EST on ESPN.