by David Jones, USA TODAY Sports

GAINESVILLE — Tests on Monday revealed that senior forward Erik Murphy, the team’s second-leading scorer with a 12.1 average, has suffered a fractured rib.

Murphy will be evaluated further — and did work out some on Monday — but his status for the team’s SEC opener against Georgia on Wednesday is to be determined. Gators coach Billy Donovan said earlier in the day that it was highly questionable if he’d be able to play.

Murphy first hurt the area on Dec. 29 against Air Force but still scored 21 points. He practiced and tried to play in Sunday’s game at Yale but couldn’t play. Donovan said a hit in practice late last week made the injury even worse.

The injury is on his left side. Donovan said prior to finding out the rib was broken that, regardless, it would be painful for quite some time and Murphy would face a lot of pain.

“There is no difference really between a bruise and a break except the healing process. He is cleared to play right now, but it is all up to him, how much pain he can tolerate,” Donovan said. “He is not going to significantly hurt himself anymore because he’s going to be padded up and it’s not going to be a problem, but what happens is if he gets hit there or reaches and stretches it becomes so uncomfortable.”

The X-rays were taken largely to see how long the heeling process would take.

“His breathing is a problem,” Donovan said. “His sleeping is a problem right now. ….I had broken two (ribs) in college and it was probably a good 4-6 weeks before I was pain free. When it is a bruise, it is probably going to be a week to ten days. That’s all we are trying to find out right now. Him playing on Wednesday has nothing to do with if the diagnosis comes back they are broken or if they are bruised. It has nothing … [For more on Florida's Erik Murphy suffers fractured rib, could miss SEC opener, click here.]