Tennessee Football Faces Receiver Injuries as Matthews Returns to Practice

The Tennessee Volunteers football team is facing challenges with injuries and inexperience, particularly at the wide receiver position, where key players like Braylon Staley and Chris Brazzell remain sidelined, and only five healthy scholarship receivers were available at practice. The team must replace its top three receivers from last season, including Dont’e Thornton who was drafted into the NFL. Meanwhile, redshirt freshmen such as Braylon Staley and others are expected to take on larger roles in the 2025 season despite limited game experience. On defense, linebacker Arion Carter has emerged as a standout player, earning recognition on Bruce Feldman’s annual Freaks List due to his athleticism and breakout performance in 2024. Former Tennessee player Cam Seldon, now at Virginia Tech, was also highlighted on the Freaks List for his speed and versatility after transferring. Overall, Tennessee’s roster includes a significant number of younger players stepping into key roles amid a transition period, with the team striving to rebuild and overcome personnel losses and injuries.