Del Rio was injured in Saturday’s 31-10 loss at Southeastern Conference rival Arkansas that dropped the Gators to 6-4 overall and 4-2 in the SEC.
Florida coach Jim McElwain told reporters Monday that Del Rio was scheduled for an MRI exam and expected the injury to sideline him for more than one game.
“It’s bad, man,” McElwain said. “When you can’t lift your duffel bag up, chances are something’s hurt, right?”
Del Rio struggled against Arkansas, finishing 19 of 37 for 229 yards and two interceptions and failing to get his team into the end zone.
Austin Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, will get the start against the Gamecocks. Appleby went 1-1 in two starts for an injured Del Rio earlier this season and has thrown for 470 yards with three touchdowns and one interception in four appearances.
Del Rio has passed for 1,358 yards with eight touchdowns and as many interceptions in his six starts for Florida, which holds a half-game edge over Kentucky atop the SEC East.