Former Wisconsin Badger Graham Mertz Injured During Florida Gators Loss to Missouri
Nov 18, 2023; Columbia, Missouri, USA; Florida Gators quarterback Graham Mertz (15) runs the ball as Missouri Tigers defensive back JC Carlies (1) chases during the first half at Faurot Field at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
© Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Former Wisconsin Badger Graham Mertz Injured
In an unexpected turn of events, former Wisconsin Badger Graham Mertz, now a Florida Gator, has suffered a major setback. The promising quarterback's season came to a halt this past Saturday when the Gators faced off against Missouri. During the third quarter Mertz suffered a non-displaced collarbone fracture. Video footage of the play was released on the Gator's X account (formerly known as Twitter).
Following the injury Florida Gators Head Coach Billy Napier told the press, "He’ll be out for a little bit,” Napier said. “Probably, we’ll have more information whether it’s surgical or not. I think right now the belief is that it may not be. We’ll need to get more images before we make that decision. … I don’t want to speak on something when I don’t have 100 percent of the facts. I just know that he’s unavailable. We think it’s a pretty significant injury.” Freshman Max Brown stepped in as Mertz's replacement to play in his third game of the season. The Florida Gators ultimately lost 33-31.
Earlier today, Napier gave an update on Graham Mertz's condition, stating, “We took another image yesterday. We felt good about that image. We’re going to go on a two-week period here where the fracture will start growing back.” The Florida Gators will have to play without Mertz when they go up against the Florida State Seminoles this weekend.
Nov 26, 2022; Madison, Wisconsin, USA; Wisconsin Badgers quarterback Graham Mertz (5) throws a pass during the third quarter against the Minnesota Golden Gophers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
© Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
From Badger to Gator: Mertz's Journey
Mertz spent 4 seasons with the Wisconsin Badgers, playing from 2019-2022. In 34 games Mertz accumulated 5405 passing yards with 38 touchdowns and an average of 159.0 yards per game. After announcing his transfer in late 2022, former Wisconsin Badger Graham Mertz quickly made a name for himself at Florida. In just 11 games this season, Mertz amassed 2903 passing yards and contributed to 24 touchdowns, showcasing his talent as a quarterback.
Final Thoughts
The Florida Gators, now without their key quarterback Graham Mertz, face a challenging road ahead. Mertz's journey from Wisconsin to Florida has been impressive, but his absence will test the team'sadaptability as they prepare for Saturday's game against the Seminoles.
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