GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback Anthony Richardson has displayed some impressive moves but should perhaps plan to stick to the football field.
Known for his pre-game backflips and long scoring plays, the redshirt freshman injured his knee while dancing on the eve of the Gators’ 40-17 loss at South Carolina.
Richardson already was questionable for the game because of a concussion sustained a week earlier against Georgia, a 34-7 loss during the first career start for the promising 19-year-old from Gainesville.
Coach Dan Mullen said doctors had cleared Richardson to practice last Thursday. The next night he injured his knee at the team hotel, the last news Mullen wanted to hear as his team looked to snap a two-game losing streak and get back on track.
“Could have played Saturday but having not practiced, coming off a concussion, and with that he was going to emergency-only situation,” Mullen said Monday. “Then he was gimping around earlier today, so we’ll see.”
Mullen said an MRI did not reveal any damage and Richardson should be available as the struggling Gators (4-5) host FCS foe Samford (3-4) at noon Saturday in the Swamp.
““He was cleared to play Saturday, and now I don’t know,” Mullen said.
Richardson replaced Emory Jones as the starter against Georgia, but struggled against the nation’s top-ranked defense and No. 1 team.
He finished 12 of 20 for 82 yards with 2 interceptions while rushing for 26 yards on 12 carries, not the kind of production he and fans had come to expect. The explosive 6-foot-4, 236-pound Richardson had entered the game averaging 10.6 yards per attempt and 12.4 yards per rush.
Jones and Richardson have combined for an SEC-high 15 interceptions and 18 touchdown passes. The duo has combined for 916 rushing yards and six scores.
