Billy Napier gave an update on Graham Mertz after the quarterback suffered an injury against Missouri on Saturday.

Mertz will miss the final game of the regular season against Florida State with a fractured collarbone. He is going through a 2-week healing process and will be re-evaluated to determine whether or not he needs surgery, Napier said in his press conference Monday.

Mertz has had a successful year in his first season with the Gators, recording 2,903 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’s dealt just 3 interceptions on the year.

Now Florida will look to Max Brown at quarterback. Brown stepped in for Mertz in the second half, throwing for 56 yards and setting up Florida for a field goal that took the lead in the final 2 minutes, though Missouri ended up winning on a field goal on the next drive.

Brown, a freshman, has not seen much action this year. He played briefly against McNeese State and Vanderbilt. Napier said that Florida will now have to run an offense that compliments Brown well in the final game of the season.

“We have to play a brand of football relative to Max, what he knows, what’s he’s comfortable with,” Napier said.

The Gators are looking for a big upset over Florida State this week in a game that would give them bowl eligibility.

Andrew Peters