Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Important Tennessee Vols player sidelined at practice; Does UT football suddenly have a big concern ahead of the season?

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Zach Ragan | Last updated Aug 3, 2025 1:47 PM ET

The Tennessee Vols’ already thin wide receiver room looked even thinner during Sunday’s practice.

According to the Knoxville News Sentinel's Adam Sparks, Vols sophomore wide receiver Mike Matthews was not a full participant in practice on Sunday.

Matthews appears to be dealing with a minor day-to-day injury. Additionally, redshirt junior wide receiver Chris Brazzell has yet to fully practice as he recovers from a recent clean-up procedure.

With Matthews and Brazzell sidelined, Tennessee had just five scholarship wide receivers available on Sunday (redshirt freshman Braylon Staley, redshirt freshman Amari Jefferson, true freshman Travis Smith, freshman Radarius Jackson, and true freshman Joakim Dodson).

Mike Matthews sidelined at Tennessee practice, adding to depth concerns at wide receiver.

The Vols had only five healthy scholarship WRs at practice Sunday (and four of them have never played).https://t.co/oUZdGnP7di
— Adam Sparks (@AdamSparks) August 3, 2025

Neither Matthews or Brazzell are believed to be dealing with longterm issues. Both players are expected to be ready to go for the start of the 2025 season.

And that's important since Matthews and Brazzell are considered Tennessee's top two wide receivers.

(It's also important for Matthews and Brazzell, along with UT's entire wide receiver room, to get as many reps as possible with the three Tennessee quarterbacks that are battling for the starting job.)

The absence of both players, however, shows just how thin the Vols' depth is at wide receiver. Tennessee is hoping everyone stays healthy, but an injury or two would immediately thrust a couple of young wide receivers into prominent roles in the Volunteers' offense (it's also unclear at this point what kind of role defensive back Boo Carter will play in Tennessee's offense this fall).

There's no reason to worry about Tennessee's wide receiver depth just yet, but it's something that could bear watching throughout the season.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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