Tennessee quarterback Hendon Hooker goes down with non-contact injury

Tennessee is in comeback mode against South Carolina, trying to avoid what would be a playoff-ending loss on the road. In the process, a scary moment took place with quarterback Hendon Hooker, who went down with a non-contact injury. The Volunteers’ staff immediately went to tend to him, while Hooker was grabbing around his leg.

According to the ESPN broadcast, Hooker was able to limp off after being treated for a knee injury. Sideline reporter Holly Rowe said there was some weight being put on the leg as Hooker walked into the medical tent.

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“Hendon Hooker was able to walk off the field,” Rowe said. “He was putting weight on that left leg as he very carefully walked into the injury tent. His head was down, teammates were hugging him… He was able to put weight on that left leg.”

Joe Milton was brought into the game to close out the fourth quarter for Tennessee. He was originally named the starting quarterback by head coach Josh Heupel before the beginning of the 2021 season. But once the move to Hooker was made, Heupel has seen his offense explode and dominate SEC play.

Hooker has been one of the best players in the country for Tennessee this season, being in the middle of a Heisman Trophy campaign. When thinking about the future, Vanderbilt is the final regular season game on the schedule. It’s looking less and less likely that the Vols make their way to the College Football Playoff and play in a normal bowl game.

No matter if there is an injury or not, Hooker would likely not play in the postseason and begin to prepare for the upcoming NFL Draft. In what was such a special season for Hooker, the ending could possibly be a heartbreaking one.