Vols’ Center Mack Crowder Has High Ankle Sprain

Tennessee’s starting center, Mack Crowder, suffered a high ankle sprain on Saturday in the Vols’ win over Kentucky, according to Butch Jones.

Jones also said (on the Butch Jones show on Sunday morning) that Crowder’s knee is also being checked on. The Vols should know more this week. Vol fans, however, should probably brace themselves for bad news, as ugly as the injury looked.

Crowder is one of the few Tennessee offensive lineman that had seen “extensive” playing time heading into the 2014 season. The redshirt junior played in 10 games, with one career start, prior to the 2014 season.

Sophomore Dylan Wiesman replaced Crowder in the game against Kentucky and did a serviceable job. The Cincinnati native has played in nine games this season, though most of his action has come on special teams.

Jones also announced on Sunday that backup left guard Austin Sanders suffered a high ankle sprain as well on Saturday.

I’m not certain on the math, but I believe that makes 1,342 high ankle sprains for the Volunteers this season (again, I could be off a bit on that number).

The Vols will hope to get Crowder healthy in time for their game against Missouri. However, if that’s not possible than Wiesman will draw his first career start.