Tennessee Vols have an injury concern ahead of the 2023 season
The Tennessee Vols have been mostly healthy during fall camp, but there's an injury concern that's popped up recently that could impact UT in their season-opener against Virginia next month. Starting center Cooper Mays has been sidelined recently during practice. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced on Thursday after the Vols' first fall scrimmage that […]
The Tennessee Vols have been mostly healthy during fall camp, but there's an injury concern that's popped up recently that could impact UT in their season-opener against Virginia next month.
Starting center Cooper Mays has been sidelined recently during practice. Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel announced on Thursday after the Vols' first fall scrimmage that Mays underwent a "procedure" on Wednesday.
Heupel said that Mays will be out a couple of weeks.
Mays, however, is expected to be back in time for Tennessee's season-opener against the Cavaliers in Nashville on September 2.
Of course, no one knows for sure how long Mays will be sidelined. And with the season starting in three weeks, there's at least a small reason for concern with Mays — especially since the senior is probably Tennessee's most important offensive lineman.
With Mays out, redshirt senior offensive lineman Ollie Lane started at center during Tennessee's scrimmage.
If there's a benefit to Mays missing time during fall camp it's that Tennessee is building some important depth at the center position.
And if Mays is forced to miss the Virginia game — who knows how things will transpire over the next couple of weeks — then the Vols should be alright with Lane at center against a Cavaliers team that they shouldn't have any issues with.
Having Mays healthy and ready to go for conference play (which begins on September 16 against Florida) is more important than having him ready for the Virginia game. Obviously it would be great if Mays can play against the Cavaliers, but he shouldn't be pushed to play in that game if he's not 100 percent healthy.
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