It's starting to look like the shoulder injury suffered by Tennessee football 5-star freshman David Sanders Jr. is much more serious than any of us could have imagined. Alarm bells went off when Sanders, out of nowhere, was ruled out for the season-opener against Syracuse.
Then, more concern arrived when he wasn't able to suit up for Week 2 against East Tennessee State. Now, the worry is reaching a new level. Moments ago, On3 insiders Pete Nakos and Chris Low reported that Sanders is still not close to 100 percent and that he is expected to miss the massive Week 3 showdown with Georgia. This marks three consecutive games he'll be out for, which is not good at all:
Kirby Smart says the quiet part out loud about playing at Tennessee and Neyland
NEWS: Tennessee 5-star true freshman OT David Sanders is expected to miss his third straight game with a lingering shoulder issue, @clowfb & @PeteNakos_ report❌
— On3 (@On3sports) September 12, 2025
The Volunteers host Georgia tomorrow at 3:30 ET. https://t.co/A4aFWDtL4h pic.twitter.com/JcNYJBlxtb
Tennessee OT David Sanders Jr. is not expected to play vs. Georgia in Week 3
This has got to be frustrating for Sanders. This spring and during fall camp, he turned plenty of heads despite being a true freshman. Upperclassmen on offense showered him with love and praise due to his strong play, which made it seem like a strong Year 1 was on the way for him.
Nothing but adversity has been on the table for him since, however. With this being labeled as a 'lingering' shoulder issue by Low and Nakos too, it's clear this isn't going to be an easy fix for Sanders. The staff isn't going to want to rush him back too soon either.
Luckily for Heupel and offensive line coach Glen Elarbee, Jesse Perry, a 6-7 force on the outside, has started at RT for the Vols the first two games and he's been tremendous. In the 72-17 win over East Tennessee State, he was graded as the best offensive tackle in the country by Pro Football Focus.
With the Vols as small underdogs against Georgia for Saturday, the offensive line will need to be at its best from start to finish. Perry will look to bring his A-game, which will be needed now that Sanders won't be available. The Vols will take on UAB in Week 4, but it will once again be fully up in the air if Sanders will be able to play or not.