Josh Heupel gives Tennessee football injury updates on Cooper Mays, Elijah Simmons
Cooper Mays' status has yet to be decided for Tennessee football's opener against Virginia, Vols coach Josh Heupel said Thursday.
Heupel indicated that defensive lineman Elijah Simmons will be out against the Cavaliers, while Mays' status will be determined Friday. Simmons has an undisclosed injury.
The No. 12 Vols and Virginia play Saturday (noon ET, ABC) at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.
Mays had a minor medical procedure in mid-August. Heupel stated then he expected Mays to be ready for the season opener. Mays, a UT senior and former Knox Catholic standout, was a preseason All-SEC selection. He has started 19 consecutive games for UT and is the veteran in the middle of the offensive line.
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Mays had missed multiple practices before the procedure. Heupel did not specify the nature of the procedure.
Mays remained listed as the starter on the Tennessee depth chart released Monday. Seniors Ollie Lane and Dayne Davis are listed as co-backups. Davis also is listed as a co-starter with Jeremiah Crawford at right tackle. Lane is listed as a co-starter at left guard with Andrew Karic and Jackson Lampley.
Tennessee's offensive line can settle in multiple ways for the season opener. The only spot that is settled is right guard, where senior Javontez Spraggins is the starter. Left tackle appeared settled in the preseason with Miami transfer John Campbell Jr. emerging. Campbell is a co-starter with Gerald Mincey at left tackle.
If Mays does not play, UT would turn to either Lane or Davis. Whichever is chosen to play center would affect the choices at left guard and right tackle.
Tennessee football had a pair of season-ending injuries in preseason
Freshman defensive lineman Tyree Weathersby will miss the season with an injury, Heupel said midway through the preseason. The Vols already had lost senior linebacker Kwuaze Garland for the season because of lingering injuries.
Freshman running back DeSean Bishop, a former Karns standout, will be out about two months. Bishop won back-to-back Tennessee Mr. Football awards, racking up more than 6,000 all-purpose yards over the past two seasons.
Mike Wilson covers University of Tennessee athletics. Email him at michael.wilson@knoxnews.com and follow him on Twitter @ByMikeWilson. If you enjoy Mike’s coverage, consider a digital subscription that will allow you access to all of it
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee football: Josh Heupel gives Cooper Mays injury update
