Montrell Johnson Jr. injury: What does Florida star’s loss mean for Billy Napier’s team?
A knee injury to star running back Montrell Johnson Jr. during the Florida Gators' fall camp leaves the program with a major headache ahead of the start of the 2024 NCAA football season. As per multiple reports on Saturday, Johnson Jr. underwent arthroscopic knee surgery to repair the injury.
Per the Associated Press, Johnson Jr. suffered the injury in the first few days of training camp. A source also told the AP that the surgery was minor and that Johnson Jr. was still expected to play in the Gators' opening game of the season against the Miami Hurricanes in Gainesville on August 31.
However, Locked on Gators podcast host Brandon Olsen, who is an insider for the program, had conflicting information:
"The Florida Gators will be without running back Montrell Johnson for at least the first couple of games of the 2024 season.
"From what I’ve been told, six to eight weeks (out of the lineup) is the expectation for him to miss."
Should the injury keep Johnson Jr. out for Olsen's time frame, the Gators would be without arguably their best running back for a fair chunk of the season. Alongside Trevor Etienne, Johnson Jr. was one of the best running backs in the SEC last year, recording 817 yards and five touchdowns in 12 games played for the Gators.
Together, they combined for 1,570 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023, and 1,560 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2022.
Who would replace Montrell Johnson Jr. in the Florida Gators' lineup?
After two incredible seasons alongside Montrell Johnson Jr. at Gainesville, Etienne decided to enter the transfer portal during the offseason and eventually signed with the Georgia Bulldogs.
This reduces the Gators' options of reliable running backs. In Johnson Jr.'s absence, sophomore Treyaun Webb is the most likely choice to start as the Gators' running back.
Webb scored two touchdowns and recorded 18 yards with the limited game time he got in his freshman season. Johnson Jr.'s injury leaves the 5'11", 210lb sophomore with additional responsibility, which he will hope to fulfill for Billy Napier's team come the start of the season.