Tennessee head coach Butch Jones and Derek Barnett (9) check on a injured Kendal Vickers (39). The top-ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide visited the University of Tennessee Volunteers in SEC football action on October 15, 2016KNOXVILLE — The busiest place in Tennessee’s football complex this week certainly will be the training room.
The Volunteers have more than a dozen players dealing with injuries varying from season-ending to typical midseason bumps and bruises, but this week’s open date provides those players some extra time to heal up for the stretch run.
Tennessee head coach Butch Jones confirmed defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie will miss the remainder of the season after tearing a pectoral tendon in the loss at Alabama, but Tennessee’s injury woes coming out of the 49-10 loss to Alabama don’t stop there.
“In terms of other injuries that’s all I’m going to comment,” Jones said, “and the last comment I’ll make — and I say it every week — respect our players and our program. These are young adults that have families. There’s too much out there, some inaccurate, some accurate. I’m asking you that you start respecting our players.
“I’ve spent an hour on the phone this morning dealing with families and players of inaccurate information and things that are out there. These are kids. I’m here to protect our program and our players, and that’s what it’s all about. You’re the adults. I ask that you have responsibility to that.