Florida’s quarterback Graham Mertz will not play for the rest of the season after imaging tests confirmed he has a torn ACL sustained during Saturday’s overtime defeat against Tennessee.

The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Mertz, who joined the Gators from Wisconsin, returned for his final year after completing 2,903 passing yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions in 2023. He missed one game in 2024 due to a concussion but started five, accumulating 791 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions.

Mertz had a 7-9 record as a starter at Florida for two seasons.

“I am grateful for everything he brought to our team,” Florida coach Billy Napier expressed on Monday. “His contributions on the field, along with his leadership and work ethic, set a great example for everyone.”

After his injury was announced, Mertz shared a message on social media.

“As I recuperate, I will still support the program and assist my teammates from both meetings and the sidelines,” Mertz noted in his post. “Thank you all for the tremendous support during this challenging time.”

Florida plans to start five-star freshman DJ Lagway as their quarterback for the remainder of the season, beginning with Saturday’s game against Kentucky at The Swamp. Lagway, honored as the 2023 Gatorade high school player of the year, has played in all six games this year, starting once. He has thrown for 765 yards, with five touchdowns and four interceptions.

“There’s definitely some enthusiasm regarding DJ and his achievements so far,” Napier stated. “Having started a game and played in every match this season should put him in a better position. He will gain a lot from taking first-team reps this week.”

“DJ has a natural talent for stepping up in crucial situations. I am confident that he will rise to the occasion. This is a fantastic opportunity for the entire team to elevate their performance across all units,” he added.

Napier also mentioned he doesn’t expect Florida’s starting running back, Montrell Johnson Jr., to face significant issues after leaving the game against Tennessee with a knee injury.