Jon Sumrall shares update on injured Florida WR Vernell Brown III after missed game
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Jon Sumrall gave an encouraging update on star wide receiver Vernell Brown III during his session with reporters on Monday, but the Florida head coach still doesn’t know if Brown will return on Saturday against South Carolina after missing the Week 5 loss at Mizzou.
Brown injured his knee during Florida’s Week 4 home victory over Ole Miss and then was downgraded to doubtful last Friday night on the eve of the Mizzou matchup before ultimately missing the game.
And while Brown missed the game, the Gators missed him badly on the field in Columbia, being held to 17 points in a 45-17 loss and clearly not featuring the same passing attack without one of their leading receivers.
But Sumrall provided some hope on Monday, telling reporters that the sophomore wideout was cleared to participate in practice and would run on Monday.
“He has the ability to run, but we’ve got to see how confident he is to cut it loose,” Jon Sumrall said.
There are still obstacles, and Sumrall said that Brown remains uncertain for 16th-ranked Florida’s Week 6 home matchup against South Carolina (12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network).
Brown, who has 17 catches for 271 yards and 2 touchdowns this season, had an MRI on his knee early last week that showed he did not suffer a long-term injury. Sumrall wasn’t sure then about a timeline for Brown’s return, and about a week later he’s still not sure if his standout wideout will be able to return for the Week 6 matchup.
Having Brown back in the lineup on Saturday after his missed the Mizzou game would be a big help for the Gators as they try to bounce back against South Carolina. Here is what the Kalshi market is currently saying about Florida’s chances to rebound in Week 6 and avoid back-to-back losses:
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
