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Florida football coach Billy Napier updates injury status of WRs Caleb Douglas, Eugene Wilson III

Florida Gators wide receiver Caleb Douglas (4) catches the ball during fall football practice at Sanders Practice Fields at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL on Tuesday, August 1, 2023. [Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun]

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Florida football not only lost 33-14 at Kentucky on Saturday, but it suffered a significant blow to its receiving corps as well.

Starting wide receiver Caleb Douglas suffered a lower leg injury late in the second quarter after making a leaping 34-yard catch down to the UK 1-yard line that set up the first touchdown for the Florida Gators.

"He'll be out for a significant chunk of time," head coach Billy Napier said. "He's got a lower leg injury. I think it's non-surgical, but it will be quite a bit of (recovery) time."

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Napier also explained why wide receiver Eugene Wilson III, who made the trip to Kentucky and warmed up pregame, didn't take part in the game. Wilson has been out since suffering a collarbone injury in the first half against Tennessee.

"We didn't feel good about putting him out there," Napier said. "We were hopeful that he would be ready. (He) had some contact throughout the week but after evaluating him pregame, it wasn't in his best interest. As much as he wanted to go, we made a decision that he wasn't ready."

The injury to Douglas and the decision not to play Wilson left Ricky Pearsall and Kahleil Jackson as the lone two receivers with starting experience playing in the second half against the Wildcats. Freshman receiver Andy Jean stepped up in Douglas' absence with four catches for 33 yards.

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida Gators football updates status of WRs Eugene Wilson, Caleb Douglas