Florida might go without three defensive starters against Appalachian State on Saturday.
DT Jaye Howard remains hobbled by a sprained ankle and still is not practicing full speed, and coach Urban Meyer mentioned two new injuries on his weekly SEC teleconference: MLB Jon Bostic has a bruised sternum and SLB A.J. Jones hurt his hamstring.
“I think A.J. would be questionable,” Meyer said. “I imagine Bostic would be probable.”
I imagine not. Even breathing is hard for someone with a bruised sternum, so the prospect of playing a football game seems unlikely.
RB Jeff Demps (sprained left foot) is still hurt, but Meyer said it is worth trying to play him the next two weeks “to try to win a game.”
Demps recently developed a stress reaction in the foot, which is not as bad as a stress fracture, but can be almost as much of a hindrance.
“He’s got a stress reaction in his foot, so he doesn’t practice,” Meyer said. “It’s very frustrating. He has not been near 100 percent since the Tennessee game. It’s been devastating on all fronts.
“Any offense you see across the country, take the No. 1 play-maker out of the offense and the blow is going to be severe.”
K Caleb Sturgis, who has been out since Week 5 with a back injury, will not play this week.
