South Carolina’s Shane Beamer on Juice Wells injury: ‘Could be Saturday, could be next year’

COLUMBIA — South Carolina football coach Shane Beamer did not rule out star wide receiver Antwane “Juice” Wells for the Gamecocks’ homecoming game Saturday against Florida, but he indicated the timeline for Wells’ recovery is a mystery.

Wells has yet to play a game at full health this season, though he appeared briefly in each of the first three. The preseason All-SEC selection exited the SEC opener against Georgia on Sept. 16 with a left foot injury after scoring a touchdown on the opening drive.

“He’s doing OK. Working hard to get back, and who knows when that’ll be,” Beamer said. “Could be Saturday, could be next month, could be next year. I don’t know at this point. But he did see a specialist in Charlotte on Tuesday and everything with the specialist went great. We saw that the injury is healing at a great rate . . . it’s just going to be when he feels like he can be 100% and when we feel good putting him out there.”

If Wells is out, sophomore O’Mega Blake will start against Florida, with freshman Tyshawn Russell as the backup.

South Carolina (2-3, 1-2 SEC) faces the Gators (4-2, 2-1) at Williams-Brice Stadium (3:30 p.m., SEC Network). It lost 38-6 to Florida in Gainesville last season, but eight of South Carolina’s 10 wins in the history of the series have come at home.

Beamer also said Charlotte transfer Jaxon Hughes, a backup offensive tackle, is out against Florida after he was “banged-up” during practice earlier in the week. Hughes is the eighth offensive lineman to miss a game this season because of an injury, though his issue does not seem to be long term.

The Gamecocks have lost three offensive linemen to season-ending injuries, and presumed starting tackle Jaylen Nichols has yet to return after suffering a knee injury in the spring game.

Beamer had said Tuesday that the only player limited besides those with long-term injuries is David Spaulding with a wrist injury, but he is expected to be available against Florida. Defensive lineman TJ Sanders, who missed most of the second half at Tennessee, is fully available.

Follow South Carolina football beat reporter Emily Adams on X @eaadams6 and subscribe to The Greenville News for exclusive Gamecocks content: https://subscribe.greenvilleonline.com/offers.

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