Graham Mertz left the game for the Florida Gators in the third quarter of the team’s Week 10 matchup against Arkansas after suffering an injury on a third-down play.
Mertz surveyed the field from the pocket and eventually escaped to his left when pressure flushed him out. He was able to get the ball out of his hands with rushers closing in, but as he released, he took a hard hit rolling to his left.
Mertz knelt down on the ground for a moment after the hit, visibly shaken up, and was tended to by trainers, who helped him off the field. In his stead, freshman QB Max Brown entered the game.
As of now, it’s unclear if Mertz will return to the game, and it’s unclear what the nature or extent of his injury is. We will update this article when pertinent information is obtained.
Graham Mertz Was Playing Well Entering Week 10
After transferring over to Florida from Wisconsin, Mertz experienced a bit of a career resurgence in 2023.
Heading into Week 10, Mertz had completed 195 of 257 passes (75.9%) for 2,127 yards, 14 touchdowns, and just two interceptions. And in three quarters against Arkansas, he’d completed 15 of 24 passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns.
If Mertz is out for the game, it’s a big loss for the Gators. He’s been a stellar distributor for Florida week after week in 2023, and he also has the evasiveness and the high-end arm talent to convert on big-play opportunities when they arise.
Mertz’s extended absence would tip the scales in K.J. Jefferson’s favor. Brown, a redshirt freshman, has only thrown seven career passes entering this contest. He completed six of them for 50 yards.
Update: Mertz returned to the game on the following drive.
