Injury report for Tennessee ahead of Alabama

Tennessee has a number of injury situations to follow as the Volunteers head south to Tuscaloosa on Saturday night. None are bigger than the quarterback situation, which could greatly alter Jim Chaney’s gameplan on Saturday night.

Here’s what you need to know.

QB Brian Maurer

Maurer sustained a concussion against Mississippi State in the second quarter and did not return. He returned to practice just a day later, but still hasn’t been cleared.

“It’ll still be a game-time decision with him,” Jeremy Pruitt said on Wednesday. “It’s easy to take reps because they have a protocol where they kind of get them in, kind of adjust them back into the practice schedule. You don’t hit the quarterback, so he’s taking reps this week.”

OG Riley Locklear

Locklear missed the Mississippi State game after “getting his bell rung” against Georgia. Pruitt didn’t sound too optimistic about him playing on Saturday night.

“We don’t know if he’s going to play yet,” Pruitt said. “Right now, I’d say he probably won’t.”

OL Jahmir Johnson

Johnson has been missing since the early season after undergoing a procedure on his knee. Luckily for Tennessee, depth on the offensive line hasn’t been an issue this year. But the Volunteers will get another piece back this week anyways, as Pruitt confirmed he will be back against Alabama on Wednesday.

DL LaTrell Bumphus

Bumphus got dinged up last weekend against Mississippi State, interrupting what has been a bit of a breakout season for him. Finally settled into a position, Bumphus has flashed here and there for the Tennessee defense.

Pruitt was unsure if he’d have Bumphus available for the Alabama, game however. That decision will be made before Tennessee departs to Tuscaloosa.

CB Warren Burrell

Tennessee’s freshman cornerback has been missing in the last two games, nursing an ankle injury. Kenneth George has played well in his place, but it sounds like the Tennessee secondary will be back to full song on Saturday night.

“Warren is a guy that, sometimes with those ankle injuries, it kind of lingers and it doesn’t take a lot to kind of aggravate them,” Pruitt said, “But he’ll be available.”

SAF Trevon Flowers

Don’t forget, Tennessee will be without Flowers against Alabama this week after the sophomore safety suffered a lower leg injury against Mississippi State. Pruitt called it a broken leg, but Flowers tweeted ‘ankle.’

Regardless, Flowers season could be done. Look for Theo Jackson and Jaylen McCollough to pick up the slack.