Injury Report: Who is in, who is out for No. 15 Tennessee in season opener vs. Chattanooga

The College Football season is upon us, and Tennessee is set to start the 2024 campaign against Chattanooga on Saturday at 12:45 p.m. ET. The Vols come into the matchup looking to get valuable reps for players up and down the roster, and Volquest takes a look at the injury situation ahead of the contest. 

Tennessee DB Jourdan Thomas (OUT)

Thomas suffered a season-ending knee injury during camp which Josh Heupel confirmed after Tennessee’s first scrimmage of the fall. 

“He’s handled it with a ton of maturity,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said after the first scrimmage of fall camp. “Just being in the building, being around, being out here tonight with the guys. It matters to him. The guys care about him in a great way, too.”

Tennessee RB Cameron Seldon (IN)

Seldon suffered a shoulder injury that required him to miss the Spring after having surgery. Seldon has been ramping back up for the past several weeks, and he is set to get work on Saturday against Chattanooga.

“He’s been doing good,” De’Rail Sims said of Seldon earlier in the week. “He’s been doing a really good job of sitting up there attacking the practice. So we’ll turn loose on Saturday and let him see what we can do.”

Tennessee RB Peyton Lewis (IN)

The talented freshman missed spring due to a preexisting injury from his senior season in high school that required surgery. He has ramped up this fall and been a participant in fall camp and looks to get his first action as a Vol on Saturday.

“Peyton is fully integrated into everything that we’re doing,” Heupel said at SEC Media Days in Dallas. “Cam’s reallyclose to that. He’ll have a growth progression as we get into training camp, but excited to have both of those guys continue along that line and be ready for kickoff when we get to the season.”

Tennessee WR Mike Matthews (Probable)

Matthews was limited to start fall camp, but sources told Volquest at the time this was a minor soft tissue injury, and he has been getting some work of late. We will see how much Tennessee pushes him into the fray, but he should be good to dress out.

Tennessee CB Rickey Gibson (Probable)

Similar to Matthews, Gibson has been dealing with a minor muscle strain the past few weeks. It seems probable that he will suit up and play for the Vols today, but Tennessee may not want to push him too much against Chattanooga, if they don’t have to.

Tennesseee WR Bru McCoy (IN)

McCoy suffered a gruesome season-ending leg injury last fall, but he has worked his way back and has been ramping up toward the start of the season. He has participated in a scrimmage and should be in the starting lineup on Saturday for the Vols. 

“I have definitely made myself proud going through this process and getting done what I was able to get done,” McCoy said last week. “Obviously, it all leads up to what’s going on in a week and a half. I just think about the opportunity to get back in Neyland, to get back in the environment. To do what I love, being able to play freely and not worry about being an injured guy anymore.”

Tennessee Dont’e Thornton (IN)

Dont’e Thornton also missed the last two games of the season after sufferering an ankle injury on the road against Missouri. He has been back and had a strong fall camp. He will suit up for the Vols on Saturday. 

Tennessee TE Miles Kitselman (Probable)

Kitselman has been dinged up coming out of the end of fall camp, but he should see playing time for the Vols today. He has been a bright spot in the tight end room for Alec Abeln’s group since arriving in the winter, and he is expected to be in the rotation for the Vols this fall.

Tennesseee Andrej Karic (IN)

Karic was also sidelined for the later part of the season with an injury. He has been back healthy this fall and is expected to factor into Tennessee’s rotation at left guard on Saturday.

Also of note, Tennessee freshman linebacker Jordan Burns is in street clothes for this one