While offensive line coach/offensive coordinator Steve Addazio said Tuesday that he’d ideally like to move Marcus Gilbert back to right tackle and start Xavier Nixon at left tackle, that won’t happen this week.
Maurice Hurt said he’s been taking the first-team reps at right tackle this week, and Gilbert has been playing at left tackle.
“We’re still getting some guys back and we’re still shuffling the rotation, but for now I think I’m going to be at right tackle,” said Hurt, who regularly plays guard.
With Nixon and Matt Patchan (who will miss several more weeks) out, the Gators were forced to shuffle the offensive line around. This meant moving Gilbert from right tackle to left tackle, and Hurt from guard to right tackle.
The offensive line played OK on Saturday in its new set-up, but there is room for improvement.
The good news this week is that Nixon is practicing with contact and will probably play this week. He’ll begin as a backup to Gilbert at left tackle, but should rotate in to get some snaps.
The line also will receive a boost with the return of left guard Carl Johnson, who was suspended last week for undisclosed reasons.
The injury situation leaves Hurt a bit uncertain about what position he’ll play from week to week, but he’s OK with that.
“Our coach wants us to rotate and be versatile,” Hurt said. “It’s the nature of the game.”
A complete injury update is after the jump.
Other injury updates: WR Frankie Hammond Jr. (suspension), DT Terron Sanders (knee), S Will Hill (suspension) and TE Jordan Reed (knee) are expected to play this week. LT Matt Patchan (knee) will be out “several weeks,” Meyer said. CB Moses Jenkins will miss at least six weeks.
