Photo: Jalen Kimber; Credit: Zach Goodall
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Florida redshirt junior cornerback Jalen Kimber was not included on UF's Week 4 injury report released on Wednesday, indicating that he avoided a significant injury when he hurt his left leg against Tennessee on Saturday.
Kimber suffered the injury in the fourth quarter against Tennessee in Week 3, requiring attention from Florida's training staff after forcing an incompletion. However, Kimber's father, Art, shared via social media on Monday that the cornerback is "all good" following the scare.
"It looked worse [than] it was," the older Kimber wrote. "[Jalen] was walking fine after the game, talked to him this morning [and] he’s all good."
Kimber joined the Gators ahead of the 2022 season following a transfer from Florida's SEC East rival, Georgia. Kimber was sidelined for the majority of his final campaign at UGA with a shoulder injury, and also played through a broken hand to begin his first season at UF, limiting his offseason workout availability last year.
“Jalen’s been steady. Jalen’s done a good job keeping the ball in front of him. He's more physical," Napier described Kimber's offseason progression on Aug. 11. "This was just really his first complete offseason. He gained significant lean mass. So we're very pleased with Kimber."
Lining up opposite third-team Preason All-SEC cornerback Jason Marshall Jr., Kimber tallied two tackles and a pass breakup to begin this season. In 2022, Kimber posted 13 tackles, one interception (which was returned for a touchdown) and two passes defended.
Sophomore Devin Moore, who recorded the first interception of his career against Tennessee, has been listed as a co-first-teamer with Kimber on Florida's weekly depth chart. The two have split reps at the position this year with Kimber outplaying Moore roughly two defensive snaps to one.
The duo has allowed just two catches for 14 over eight combined targets in coverage this season, per Pro Football Focus, with Moore producing the crucial interception against the Volunteers in Week 3. Each defensive back has broken up a pass, too.
Florida will host Charlotte at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville.
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