Tennessee Football’s injury report just added a new name to the list, but the Vols’ depth shouldn’t have fans worried.
Last weekend against the Virginia Cavaliers, Tennessee Football’s starting center Cooper Mays and second-team defensive tackle Elijah Simmons were inactive. However, the Vols ended up losing yet another starter on defense in the game against UVA.
Keenan Pili is expected to miss “multiple weeks” due to injury.
Tennessee Athletics reported yesterday that the BYU transfer LB Keenan Pili will miss multiple weeks of the 2023 season after suffering an injury in the opener against Virginia.
Pili, who stands at 6’3″ 237 pounds, is an incredible addition to the Tennessee Football defense. Last year, he had four tackles for a loss, a sack, a pass deflection, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and 62 total tackles, 29 of which were solo. He was coming back from an ACL injury in 2021, and he was All-Independent in 2020.
Tennessee coach Josh Heupel confirmed Wednesday on the SEC Coaches Teleconference the following:
"“We weren’t sure earlier in the week the severity of the injury,” Heupel said on the teleconference. “He will not be available this week. He’ll miss a couple weeks here."
Heupel shared that Keenan will miss multiple weeks, but he does believe Pili will return this season:
"“I don’t believe it is season ending,” Heupel said. “We’ll see how he continues to heal up here in the coming days and weeks.”"
I will be on the lookout for more information as it comes out over the coming days and weeks, but it seems that the injury isn’t that serious. Be sure to keep checking for more info here.
More Tennessee Football Injury Updates.
Cooper Mays:
According to Josh Heupel, the Tennessee Football starting center Cooper Mays will not play against Austin Peay on Saturday to make “sure that he is 100%” for the game against Florida the following weekend. Heupel also mentioned that Mays has been with them on the field.
I think that this is a great move to save him for when the Vols head to the swamp to play the Gators. The game this weekend against Austin Peay, while I’m not trying to overlook any opponent, is less important for him to play than it is against Florida.
Elijah Simmons:
According to Volquest, Josh Heupel recently said in a press conference regarding Simmons the following:
"“Yeah, we’ll know more (later). But a guy that has been great all training camp and really all offseason. He’ll be out for this one,” Heupel confirmed. “But we’ll see where that goes moving forward.”Simmons was injured in Tennessee’s second scrimmage of the pre-season and hasn’t practiced since. Sources have indicated to Volquest that Simmons is expected to miss several weeks with the injury. Simmons played in all 13 games a year ago recording 8 tackles on the season."
Season Ending Injuries:
According to Knox News:
"“Freshman defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby will miss the season with an injury, Heupel said midway through the preseason. The Vols already had lost senior linebacker Kwuaze Garland for the season because of lingering injuries.Freshman running back DeSean Bishop, a former Karns standout, will be out about two months. Bishop won back-to-back Tennessee Mr. Football awards, racking up more than 6,000 all-purpose yards over the past two seasons.”"
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