John Brantley Injury: Officially out Against LSU, Will Not Have Surgery

Florida quarterback John Brantley got taken out against Alabama last week when he was taken down awkwardly on his right leg.

It was just released that Brantley will not be ready to play against LSU this Saturday. Thankfully, the injury will not require surgery. Freshman Jeff Driskel will get the start in his place.

The injury is being described as a “high ankle sprain” and he was seen walking in a protective boot and crutches around campus.

This is a huge blow for Florida’s chances against LSU. The Gators need everything they have in order to beat the Tigers on the road, and that includes experience at quarterback.

Driskel is incredibly talented, the highest-rated quarterback coming out of high school for his recruiting class, but playing in front of all of those rowdy fans is something not many experienced players can handle, much less a freshman.

So far this season, he is 7-of-16 for 72 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. Tyrann Mathieu and company will be licking their chops for a shot at Driskel.

The good news is that Brantley will likely return at some point this season because the injury does not require surgery. He could come back as early as the trip to Auburn in two weeks, but he will likely miss closer to a month.

At the very least, Driskel will get some valuable experience for when he becomes the starter next year.

The news is not all terrible, but the odds of Florida winning on the road just went from terrible to nearly impossible.