Aaron Gates to get Surgery on Left Shoulder

The Gators are positioned to be down another key contributor on the defensive side of the ball.

Standout defensive back Aaron Gates is set to go through surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder this week.

Gates suffered the injury toward the end of the first quarter of Florida’s 26-7 loss to Miami on September 20. 

The news follows an optimistic Billy Napier press conference on Monday, during which he said, “We do anticipate potentially getting Aaron back. But that’s going to be day-to-day depending on kind of how that goes…But I think we got good news on that front, and then obviously you’ll get an injury report Wednesday night.”

A labrum surgery is usually a multi-month recovery process, meaning that redshirt sophomore’s 2025-2026 season is in jeopardy.

Gates’ football life has entailed a brutal injury history – two torn ACLs, one in each knee, and now a surgically repaired shoulder. 

Junior Sharif Denson will now assume a chunk of the snaps at nickel corner with four-star freshman Lagonza Hayward as the immediate backup. Denson has already been splitting snaps at the position with Gates, dating back to last season, before Gates injured his knee against Ole Miss.

Gates joins the Gators’ mounting injury report, which includes three more standout performers: defensive lineman Caleb Banks, edge rusher LJ McCray, and corner Dijon Johnson.

With the defensive side of the ball being downright dominant in the first four games, one must wonder just how much more of a beating the unit can take. 

The Gators will release its first official injury report of the week on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

Florida looks to get back on track against No. 9 Texas and avoid the school’s first 1-4 start since the release of “Rocky IV.” 

Category: College Football, Football, Gainesville, Gators Football, SEC, University of Florida