Source: John Brantley played with pain

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Florida quarterback John Brantley was dealing with injuries to his ribs and throwing thumb but also pain in his throwing shoulder leading into the loss to LSU, a source close to the quarterback said Sunday.

Brantley and coach Urban Meyer downplayed the extent of Brantley's injuries after the game, but the source said Brantley was in considerable pain and limited all week.

According to the source, Brantley has hairline fractures in four ribs and wore a reinforced protective vest in the game. Meyer described Brantley's injury as "damage" to his ribs.

Brantley and Meyer described a thumb injury as a "sprain" but the source said there is also a small fracture in the thumb.

Because Brantley was overcompensating for the rib injury early in the week, the source said the quarterback began having a shoulder issue on Wednesday and was unable to throw on Thursday and Friday.

Florida plays against Mississippi State on Saturday and Brantley plans to start again.

Against LSU, Brantley completed 16 of 24 passes for 154 yards with one interception and was sacked three times.

"There was never any doubt that I was going to play," Brantley told reporters after the game. "I knew since Monday or Sunday I was. They're [ribs] just a little banged up. Nothing too serious. Nothing you can't play through."

Brantley completed a two-point conversion pass to Frankie Hammond Jr. for a 29-26 lead with 3:21 remaining.

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Joe Schad

College Football

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• College football reporter for ESPN
• Sideline reporter for ESPN Radio coverage