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James Franklin injury: Mizzou QB will start vs. Florida

The Missouri Tigers will start James Franklin after keeping him on the bench for two straight weeks due to a knee injury, although the junior quarterback did play in the second half last week against Kentucky.

By Rodger Sherman
Jeff Blake-US PRESSWIRE

Missouri will start James Franklin at quarterback against Florida on Saturday, giving the junior signal-caller a start for the first time in three games.

Franklin has dealt with knee injuries all year, first missing the Tigers' Week 3 game against Arizona, then aggravating the injury against Vanderbilt on Oct. 6. Corbin Berkstresser started the next two games against Alabama and Kentucky, but coach Gary Pinkel put Franklin into the Kentucky game in the third quarter. He played conservatively, only throwing for 16 yards, but the offense was more free-flowing and successful as the team cruised to a 33-10 win.

In his post-game press conference, Franklin said he'd be ready to take on Florida:

"(I'm) Like 90 percent. I'm pretty sure, unless I get hit by a car or something, that I'll be starting next week."

It's the first matchup between the Gators and Tigers since Missouri's move to the SEC. Florida lost for the first time all season last week, dropping the World's Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party matchup to Georgia, 17-9, but the Tigers should be an easier test after winning their first conference game last week.

Photographs by cstreet.us, thelastminute, turtlemom nancy , fesek, kthypryn, justinwright, sue_elias, pointnshoot, and scrapstothefuture used in background montage under Creative Commons. Thank you.