Injured Tennessee football WR returns to practice at right time for Josh Heupel

It's absolutely wild to think about, but the countdown to Week 1 for Tennessee football has reached under two weeks. Where in the world did the offseason go? The prep for the showdown with Syracuse has reached a new level and Josh Heupel is fully focused on the offense balling out.

The good news is that quarterback Joey Aguilar has been named the starter. Aguilar will also be all smiles knowing that one of his top wideouts is back at practice. That'd be Braylon Staley, who had been battling an injury. That's no longer the case, as he was suited up with his teammates on Tuesday:

Tennessee WR Braylon Staley is back at practice with the Vols

Staley had been missing due to an unspecified injury, but it's no question huge that he's back on the field and ready to catch balls from Aguilar. The faster the two of them can get on the same page and build some chemistry, the better for the O.

We don't have to tell you that the wide receiver group is a bit inexperienced for the Vols. However, guys like Mike Matthews, Chris Brazzell and Staley are ready to remind people that they have what it takes to be reliable pass-catchers for Heupel and Co.

Throughout camp, Aguilar was in a three-man battle with Jake Merklinger and George MacIntyre for the starting role. Over the weekend, though, Aguilar was named the Week 1 starter and there are going to be countless eyes on him as the official Nico Iamaleava replacement.

Aguilar plays the game with a ton of swag and confidence, but it's going to be on the WRs to make sure he looks good on Saturdays. Last season, Staley hauled in just three receptions for 21 yards as a true freshman. He's going to be tasked in playing beyond his years for this young offense in 2025. It's something he's hoping to accomplish and getting healthy was of course the first step needed for him. Once the meeting with Syracuse arrives, we'll see what he's made of.