Tennessee offensive tackle Hall expected to miss 4-6 weeks

Right tackle Chance Hall battles defensive end Darrell Taylor in a pass-blocking drill during Tennessee's practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 4, 2016.
Right tackle Chance Hall battles defensive end Darrell Taylor in a pass-blocking drill during Tennessee's practice at Haslam Field on Aug. 4, 2016.

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee offensive tackle Chance Hall has had arthroscopic knee surgery and is expected to miss four to six weeks.

Volunteers coach Butch Jones announced Hall's injury and gave the potential timetable for his return Thursday.

Hall started Tennessee's final five games at right tackle last season and had been competing for a starting role at that spot again this season. Hall, Brett Kendrick and Drew Richmond were shaping up as the three main contenders for the two starting tackle slots.

Jones added that suspended defensive tackle Alexis Johnson participated in conditioning with the team during Thursday's practice. Jones said Johnson "will continue to have to work his way back onto our football program and on our team."

Johnson, who signed with Tennessee in December, has been suspended from the team since his February arrest on charges of false imprisonment and aggravated assault. The false imprisonment charge was dismissed and the aggravated assault was reduced to misdemeanor domestic assault April 21, and prosecutors agreed to drop all charges if he avoided trouble for the next six months.

Tennessee opens the season Sept. 1 by hosting Appalachian State.

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