KNOXVILLE - After missing almost a full year due to a knee injury he suffered in the Ohio game last season, Tennessee linebacker Quart'e Sapp got his first extensive action of the season in Tennessee's 26-20 loss to Florida on Saturday.
Sapp recorded seven tackles against the Gators and figures to play an increased role as the Volunteers continue to grapple with injuries at linebacker.
Tennessee coach Butch Jones announced Monday that senior outside linebacker Cortez McDowell is out for the season with a wrist injury.
"We're going to miss him, not only from a defensive standpoint, but from a special teams standpoint as well," Jones said of McDowell, who sustained a wrist injury against the Gators.
Sapp, a redshirt sophomore, was considered a consensus four-star prospect out of Milton High School in Alpharetta, Ga.
"Quart'e Sapp has worked very, very hard to come back from a knee injury that occurred last year," Jones said. "We could see his development and his growth start to materialize throughout the course of training camp. It's like I told him the other day, 'You waited for this opportunity, now go make the most of it.' We're going to have to rely on him more and more and not just from a linebacker standpoint but from a special-teams standpoint as well."
Sapp played in the first game of the season against Georgia Tech and recorded a tackle. Before that, Sapp had seen limited action with just seven tackles in his career, most of those coming on special teams.
Now, however, the Vols are counting on Sapp to step up in a big way the rest of the season.
"Quart'e, he's rehabbed his butt off," senior Kendal Vickers said. "He's always been a guy who has worked hard - injuries have just caught up to him. But, I think now that he's past that, he's going to help out because we need him now."
Injury report
Injuries continue to mount for the Vols early in the season, especially on the defensive side.
After Todd Kelly Jr. missed the game against Florida, Jones announced that the senior safety will be out "indefinitely" and is seeking second opinions for an undisclosed injury.
The Vols now have four starters out for the season with McDowell, receiver Jauan Jennings, offensive tackle Chance Hall, and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. Kelly could become the fifth.
"We've lost a few guys, but the train keeps going," Vickers said. "We need some guys to step up. No matter if your role was not playing much to starting, we need guys to step up."
John Kelly's passion
After racing into the end zone for his 34-yard touchdown to cut the Florida led to 13-10 in the fourth quarter, John Kelly received a celebration penalty for "gator chomping" toward the Florida fans. The Gators received great field position because of the penalty and scored again to extend their lead back to 10 points.
Jones was not happy with Kelly for the gesture but said Kelly quickly admitted it was his fault as he came to the sideline.
"The energy and the passion is John Kelly's edge," Jones said. "That's what makes him who he is. Again, he does a great job of doing it in the realm of team. It was just the heat of the moment, the passion - I think the passion, the energy."
Contact Rob Harvey at rharvey@timesfreepress.com.