Notebook: Moore may miss season

<p>The biggest issue surrounding Florida’s football team this offseason was how the Gators were going to look and perform at wide receiver.</p><p>Heading into Saturday’s opener against Charleston Southern, that position is still a bit of a concern due to inexperience and a couple of nasty injuries.</p><p>Coach Urban Meyer said after Thursday’s practice that senior receiver Carl Moore’s back injury is more serious than originally thought. Moore is still behind on his rehab and Meyer said that his injury is “potentially” season-threatening.</p><p>“He had a procedure done and it’s a little more serious than Jeremy Brown (who is also nursing a back injury that bothered him last season),” Meyer said. “It’s not career-threatening, it just takes time.”</p><p>No decision has been made about freshman Andre Debose either. Debose has been sidelined for most of fall practice because of a torn hamstring tendon.</p><p>Meyer said at the beginning of the week that surgery is an option, but that a decision would be made later in the week. Thursday came and went and there is still no update on how Debose’s injury will be handled.</p><p>Meyer said he reached out to Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops for advice on how to treat Debose. Stoops’ running back DeMarco Murray suffered a similar injury during the Big 12 Championship in December and was forced to miss the national championship against Florida after undergoing surgery.</p><p>Even if Debose were able to play through it, Meyer said he’s still unsure if he would go.</p><p>“I asked that same question. I (asked), ‘Can we just play him?’ I want to see this guy play, but we can’t risk further damage to it,” Meyer said.</p><p>With Moore and Debose sidelined, the Gators will use redshirt sophomore Deonte Thompson and senior Riley Cooper out wide and will have seniors Brandon James and David Nelson inside.</p><p><b>This and that</b></p><p>Meyer said that freshman linebacker Jelani Jenkins (ankle) could play Saturday. Jenkins is expected to play primarily on special teams.</p><p>Redshirt freshman linebacker Brendan Beal is doubtful for Saturday’s game with what Meyer called a sore neck.</p><p>Meyer said junior linebacker Brandon Hicks is ready to go and hasn’t had much of a setback since returning from an ankle sprain.</p><p>“He had a really good day today,” Meyer said.</p><p>No word yet on what the offensive line will look like on Florida’s first snap. Meyer said offensive coordinator Steve Addazio will make that decision Saturday. Sophomores Matt Patchan and James Wilson and redshirt junior Carl Johnson are fighting for the left tackle and guard positions.</p><p>Meyer said that junior Joe Haden and either sophomore Janoris Jenkins or senior Markihe Anderson will start at cornerback on Saturday. Meyer said earlier in the week that he would not announce whether Jenkins would be suspended for his off-the-field legal issues this summer.</p><p><b>Quotable</b></p><p>Meyer on how anxious is team is about Saturday’s game: “They’re tired of coaches. We’re tired of players. They want to go play the game. They want to see that great stadium.”</p>