Miles Capers injury: Clark Lea offers update on Vanderbilt EDGE after being carted off

Vanderbilt EDGE Miles Capers left Kroger Field in an ambulance after being hit helmet-to-helmet during the first half of the Commodores’ 20-13 win over Kentucky on Saturday.

Despite being escorted to Albert B. Chandler Hospital less than a mile away from the stadium, he was seen back on the sideline by the end of the game. It appeared to be a promising sign after a scary-looking injury. Commodores head coach Clark Lea updated the status of Capers after the win.

“Miles is doing well,” Lea said. “He joined us for the end of the game on the sideline. I want to credit our medical team Anytime you’re dealing with a neck injury, you want to be cautious and take every precaution. So our doctors and trainers, the work they did to get to Miles, to assess Miles, I mean, you want to talk about a group of pros, the way they handled all that, the way they talked to Miles and calmed him down. I want to also thank Kentucky’s medical team who was also there to assist.

“I also want to thank Coach Stoops, who, in that moment — anytime that you have a player down and they’re bringing the board out that’s a tough moment. Coach Stoops was such a class act coming out to check on him and check on me. I have a ton of respect for Mark [Stoops]. … But I’m happy to report that Miles is doing well. I don’t know if there will be any lingering effects, but he’s doing just fine, has a smile on his face and was just happy to be back on the sideline.”

The senior EDGE finished the game with three total tackles and has been an active member of the Commodores’ defense all season. He ranks fourth on the team in tackles (25), the most on the defensive line, as well as compiling 1.5 sacks, a forced fumbles and three PBUs across six games this year.

His status for Week 8 against Ball State remains to be seen, but with No. 1 Texas coming to town in Week 9, Vanderbilt will need to be at full strength to combat Quinn Ewers and the high-powered Longhorns offense.