Florida football coach Billy Napier updates RB Montrell Johnson Jr., secondary injuries from fall camp

Florida football coach Billy Napier is optimistic about running back Montrell Johnson Jr. returning to the field after he underwent a knee procedure over the weekend.

“Montrell’s doing great, first of all," Napier said. "It was very minor. Once they got in there, it’s a scope, and he’s week-to-week."

The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Johnson rushed for a team-high 817 yards on 5.4 yards per carry and 5 TDs in 11 starts for the Florida Gators last season. He's one of UF's top offensive players and will be needed when Florida opens the season Aug. 31 at The Swamp against Miami (3:30 p.m., ABC).

Johnson was on the practice field Tuesday, watching UF running back drills, walking around without a brace on his knee. Florida is holding its first intra-squad scrimmage on Saturday.

"He’s made significant progress," Napier said. "So, it’ll be one week at a time, and we’re going to go at his pace, but we do anticipate it being a very minor issue. When we get him back is to be determined, but I think he’s in a good place relative to maybe other situations that that have been out there in the past.”

Napier also offered updates on three more players from UF's secondary who were in black jerseys on Tuesday — cornerback Devin Moore, cornerback Ja'Keem Jackson and safety Asa Turner.

"Devin has an abscessed tonsil, OK," Napier said. "That’s all that’s wrong with him, we’ll get him going, right, that may require a few things here or there, but he’s not physically injured.

"Ja’Keem is day-to-day with a soft tissue lower-body injury, and then Asa Turner’s full speed, you know, he’s got shoulder’s a little banged, but no issue there. He’s 100% participation, he’s just in a black jersey.”

Billy Napier invites legendary Florida basketball coach to speak to team

Napier invited former UF basketball coach Billy Donovan to speak to the Gators after a practice this week. Donovan, in his ninth year as an NBA coach with the Chicago Bulls, still holds UF's all-time records for wins as a basketball coach (467). In 19 seasons, he led Florida to four Final Fours and its lone two national championships in school history (2006, 2007).

"He had great insight into what he’s observed throughout the years that he thinks has helped his teams, kind of the good teams and the bad teams," Napier said, "He talked a lot about the love, care and acceptance of the players. And one of the things that he really emphasized was that adversity is our greatest gift. The harder the better, you know, and I think throughout the offseason, you kind of embrace that. You have to use that as a way to grow to improve."

Florida offensive lineman Austin Barber said players were receptive to Donovan's address.

"He knows how to win," Barber said. "Just picking his brain on what he's had come about and how he goes about winning and doing all that stuff. I think that's what I took out of it."

Florida football offensive line bounces back from early struggles

Napier said Florida's offensive line, which returns three starters (Barber at left tackle, center Jake Slaughter and right guard Dameion George Jr.) has bounced back from some early struggles in fall camp.

"Three practices back, we struggled a little bit up front," Napier said. "We challenged that group and I think they put two good days back-to-back, in particular two practices ago - practice five - I thought they were lights out. But we have a very capable group there. I think we’ve got really good leadership in that room."