Florida holds out QB Tim Tebow from practice because of a sore lower back

Florida’s Tebow has a sore lower back

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida quarterback Tim Tebow was held out of contact drills this week because of a sore lower back.

Coach Urban Meyer said Saturday that Tebow is “fine, 100 percent,” adding that the 2007 Heisman Trophy winner will be back to full speed in practice Monday and had no disk issues.

“He has not missed practice at all,” Meyer said. “He has been held out of live situations against the defense, mostly to get (backup) Johnny Brantley reps. His lower back was a little sore.”

Tebow has thrown for 6,390 yards and 67 touchdowns in three seasons at Florida. He also has 2,037 yards rushing and 43 scores. He returned for his senior season in hopes of leading the Gators to a third national title in four years.

He hasn’t missed a game in his career, but he has played hurt. He received painkilling injections before the final six games in 2007 and played against Florida State and Michigan with a broken bone in his non-throwing hand.

He played three games last year with a hyper-extended knee. He also had surgery on his right shoulder in January to remove a bone spur and reduce chronic inflammation.