A look at No.21 Tennessee's injury situation ahead of SEC East matchup with Kentucky

Tennessee and Kentucky will kickoff tonight at 7 pm eastern time on ESPN. The Vols and Wildcats come into this matchup with identical 5-2, 2-2 records. Ahead of the pivotal SEC East matchup, Volquest takes a look at Tennessee’s injury situation.

OL Jeremiah Crawford

Crawford has dressed out for Tennessee for the last three weeks, but it has been clear that he has not been a factor in the tackle rotation. He has not logged a snap for the Vols, even though Gerald Mincey has battled injury. Dayne Davis has continued to get work in behind Gerald Mincey. Crawford continues to work more in weekly warmups, so his status will be one we track leading into pre-game.

OL Gerald Mincey

Mincey has been battling a knee injury for the last two weeks. He has started the last two weeks, but he has been unable to finish the game. The expectation is he will once again go this weekend to start the game against Kentucky.

OL Andrej Karic 

Karic was out for a couple of weeks with an undisclosed injury, but last week, he was one of the surprises in Tuscaloosa as he traveled with the team and was available. He did not log a snap for the Vols, but given his trajectory, he should again be available for Tennessee this weekend in the rotation at left guard.

LB Keenan Pili (OUT)

Keenan Pili remains out with an upper-body injury, however, his timeline for return could be moving up. The hope has been to have him back for Georgia, but there is some optimism he could return by Missouri. He continues to be active around the team during this time. Tennessee’s hope is to get him back by sometime in November if he is able to return.

CB Kamal Hadden (OUT)

Hadden announced earlier this week on his social media accounts that he had suffered a season-ending injury against Alabama. He had shoulder surgery on Thursday to repair the injury. To this point in the season, he has been Tennessee’s most consistent cover corner.

WR Bru McCoy (OUT)

McCoy is sidelined for the season after suffering a gruesome leg injury against South Carolina. He has had a successful surgery and is on the road to recovery. 

“I want to thank every single individual who has taken the time to check in on me, share words of encouragement, or simply show their support. It means the world to me,” McCoy said in a statement last week. “I’ll be back, stronger, healthier, and more hungry than ever. Till then Go Damn Vols.”

Freshman DL Tyree Weathersby, RB Desean Bishop, DL Nathan Robinson (OUT)

Tennessee freshmen Tyree Weathersby and Desean Bishop both suffered long-term injuries around the same time in fall camp. Weathersby will be out for the season with a lower extremity injury, while Bishop’s injury could allow him to return at some point, but he could miss an extended period of time. 

“Weathersby will be out for the year. Deshaun is not out for the year but will be out for an extended period of time. Probably a couple of months,” Josh Heupel said on August 16th.

New to the injury report is freshman defensive lineman Nathan Robinson. The newcomer is expected to be sidelined for an extended period of time with an upper body injury. 

DB Christian Charles (OUT)

Charles left last week’s contest against Austin Peay with an ankle injury. He is expected to miss an extended period of time for the Vols following the injury. He has continued to battle injuries throughout his career.