Tennessee quarterback Tyler Bray takes the ball against Buffalo in October.KNOXVILLE - Derek Dooley was asked more questions that he could answer after Tuesday's practice regarding the status of quarterback Tyler Bray.
Tennessee's coach didn't change his answer after Wednesday morning's practice though the questions were fewer.
"He was about the same as yesterday, So we'll just see day to day how it's going," Dooley said. "We limited his reps a little bit, especially early in practice so he could kind of manage it through the rest of the deal. We'll see. We just have to take it day-to-day, no real difference from yesterday."
Dooley said the decision could go all the way to pregame warmups for the Volunteers' home game against Vanderbilt on Saturday night. Bray hasn't been able to take snaps from under center on his broken right thumb, so UT has tinkered with the Pistol formation and kept the sophomore in the shotgun.
"I think he's got a lot of rust on him," said offensive coordinator Jim Chaney. "As you watch a kid who hasn't thrown a football for four or five weeks, which you would expect, there's times he looks OK, there's times he looks really rusty. You worry about those things.
"I don't know what the rest of the week's going to add up to right now. He's in and out. He looks good, OK. Sometimes he doesn't look so good. It's an iffy situation for us as we approach every day right now."
Bray spoke to the media for the first time since his injury against Georgia early last month and made it clear he'd like to play against the Commodores, though he admitted he's rusty and not able to make all the throws he could before his injury.
"I've been wanting to play since Arkansas," Bray said. "I mean, I'm always going to to want to play. I don't like watching the game. I didn't pay for a ticket. But, I mean, it's up to the coaches, whatever they decide. I mean, they could put [kicker Michael] Palardy in the game for all I know.
"It's up to coach Dooley. I mean, if he feels I can make the throws, then I'll play. But if not, then it'll be [Justin] Worley again."
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Tailback Marlin Lane, defensive back Prentiss Waggner, reserve linebacker/special-teamer Raiques Crump were all in green non-contact jerseys. JerQuari Schofield worked some at right guard in place of starter Zach Fulton (elbow).