Florida’s backup quarterback undergoes thumb surgery

According to Edgar Thompson of the Orlando Sentinel, Florida Gators backup quarterback Jack Miller has undergone surgery for an injury suffered on his right thumb.

The injury does not seem to impact who will start against Utah in the Orange and Blue’s season opener but it is a massive blow to the quarterback room. Anthony Richardson has been the consensus favorite to be the starter, and while Billy Napier and his staff have yet to officially name a starter, it was assumed that the redshirt sophomore would win the job over Miller.

Miller transferred to Gainesville from Ohio State in the offseason in an attempt to bolster a quarterback room that lacked experience. At the end of the Spring, Miller had established himself as the clear backup, beating out Carlos Del Rio-Wilson and Jalen Kitna, both of whom were on the roster in 2021. Del Rio-Wilson transferred to Syracuse after spring camp while last year’s starter Emory Jones transferred to Arizona State in the offseason, where he will also be among the first on the field.

247Sports’ Graham Hall has confirmed Thompson’s original report and has added that there is hope that Miller can return “before the midway point of the season”.

Hall also reported that as of Tuesday, on three of Florida’s six rostered quarterbacks were participating in practice: Anthony Richardson, Max Brown and Kyle Engel. Kitna, a redshirt freshman, wore a non-contact jersey and did not participate due to a lower-leg injury.

Head coach Billy Napier is expected to provide an update on Miller after Florida’s scrimmage on Sunday.

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