Gators injury update; bye week timing beneficial

The bye week is coming at a good time for several Gators.

With a week off to get healthy, Florida defensive end Dominique Easley (knee), defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd (shoulder), H-back Trey Burton (back spasms), right tackle Chaz Green (ankle) and tight end Jordan Reed (concussion) are all expected to return for the Oct. 6 game against LSU, Florida coach Will Muschamp said Monday.

Easley went down against Tennessee late in the game and did not play against Kentucky. He was seen using crutches last week, but Muschamp said that was just to stabilize the knee and was purely a precaution. However, after originally saying the knee was not the same one Easley suffered a torn ACL in against FSU last season, Muschamp changed that Monday and said it is in fact the same knee.

"Yeah, it was the knee he injured last year," Muschamp said. "It was just a sprain on the knee. Everything should be fine."

Starting weakside linebacker Jelani Jenkins (thumb) is still uncertain for the LSU game, Muschamp said.

"I'll know more later in the week, I don't right now," Muschamp said. "I don't have the information right now, so I think he sees the doctor Wednesday."

There is a possibility that Jenkins, who has a broken bone in his thumb that required at least two pins to be inserted, could play with a club or cast on the hand.

Burton missed Saturday's game against Kentucky as well after back spasms flared up "out of the blue" on Friday before the game. Green has not played since the Texas A&M game with the ankle issue, but the added time off is expected to help him fully heal. Reed left Saturday's game against the Wildcats early after taking a large shot from two defenders on a pass down the seam.

Offensive tackle Matt Patchan (pectoral) will not play against LSU, but Muschamp said it is possible he returns in the second or third week of October. Patchan had tearing on the muscle, and Muschamp called it a painful injury. "He will play this year," Muschamp said.

Safety Cody Riggs (foot) also remains out.