Tennessee linebacker Curt Maggitt plays against Bowling Green in the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, in NashvilleKNOXVILLE -- Tennessee now has a better idea on how long it will be without Curt Maggitt.
And the prognosis isn't good for the Volunteers and one of their star players.
The senior defensive end/linebacker, one of Tennessee's best defensive players and team leaders, will miss anywhere from six to 10 weeks with a chipped bone in his hip, Vols head Butch Jones said Wednesday afternoon.
"He continues to be evaluated," Jones said. "He does not, as of today, need surgery, which is a positive. It could be eight weeks, it could be six weeks, it could be 10 weeks -- it's all based on his body and how his body heals.
"Curt is an integral part of Tennessee football and will always be an important part."
Maggitt has battled injuries throughout his career. He missed a couple of games here or there with smaller injuries in 2011 and 2012 and sat out the entire 2013 season after tearing his ACL late in the 2012 season. He played in every game in 2014 and led the Vols in sacks.
Jones wouldn't rule Maggitt out for the season, but he faces a long time on the shelf.
"I don't want to sit here and speculate when he'll be back," the coach said. "We hope he's back. All goals are that he will be back at some point in time."
Tennessee freshman defensive end Kyle Phillips stretches before the Vols' practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 11, 2015.Where's Phillips?
Corey Vereen and Dimarya Mixon will see their roles at defensive end increase in Maggitt's absence, but the biggest beneficiary may be freshman Kyle Phillips.
The former five-star recruit was one of the surprises of preseason practices. Jones and defensive line coach Steve Stripling pegged him for big things this season. But he's barely played so far this season.
Jones said Phillips was set back by some nagging injuries. Phillips had his ankle noticeably taped during practice within two weeks of the season opener.
"We have to not be so quick to anoint 17- and 18-year-old kids," Jones said.
"Everyone wants to look at recruiting rankings and was he a three-star, four-star, five-star. That's blown out of proportion," he added. "These are like your children. Kyle has done a phenomenal job. His attitude is outstanding. His work ethic is outstanding. But you're competing at the highest level.
"To his credit, he's worked very, very hard each and every day, and he's going to have an opportunity with the absence of Curt to insert his will on this football team and earn playing time each and every day. He will play a lot Saturday, and we're going to need him."
Tennessee tidbits
> Jones said he wants to see improvement "everywhere" in Saturday's game, but he most importantly wants a clean game with minimal mistakes, penalties and mental errors.
"We've been challenged with a young football team right off the bat," he said. "We just played two opponents that arguably will contend for their conference championships. We've had to grow up in a hurry and we've had to improve in a hurry."
> Jones on Tennessee's struggles throwing the ball down the field: "We will win a game this year, you watch, with having to throw the football, just like we did last year."
> Safety LaDarrell McNeil (neck) is cleared to play this week, but Jones said the Vols plan to "slowly ease him" back in his return.
"Having LaDarrell back is a big boost to us," Jones said.
"This is an individual here that hasn't played competitive football here in a couple weeks. So from a conditioning standpoint and just getting back into the rhythm and the flow of a game and the communicative process that's involved and the physicality -- we just have to pick our spots with him."
Contact Patrick Brown at pbrown@timesfreepress.com.