University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Facing Game-Time Injury Decisions
November 19, 2009 | Football
Nov. 19, 2009
The availability of three injured defensive starters will be game-time decisions Saturday, Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin said after Thursday's practice.
Kiffin said linebacker LaMarcus Thompson and defensive back Dennis Rogan did not practice much at all. He said both players will be game-time decisions, as will be leading tackler Rico McCoy.
"Like I said yesterday, those are three valuable guys to us, but we're getting some other guys some reps," Kiffin said. "Hopefully, they'll be able to go on game day."
The Vols kick off their final home game Saturday against Vanderbilt at Neyland Stadium beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. The Vol Network and ESPNU are providing the coverage.
Thompson was carted off the field with a shoulder injury near the end of last week's loss to Ole Miss, and Rogan hurt his quadriceps during the early minutes of the fourth quarter. Kiffin said Rogan has been sore all week. McCoy has been dealing with a knee injury.
Defensive back Tyler Wolf, who has spent the majority of the season on special teams duties, could log significant time on the field defensively against Vanderbilt, Kiffin said. Wolf, a Cookeville native, ranks second on the team behind Eric Berry in special teams tackles. His nine tackles in 10 games played all have come on special teams, although Wolf saw expanded playing time last week against Ole Miss.
"He could start if some of these DBs don't come back, obviously Dennis obviously being the main one," Kiffin said. "Even if Dennis is there, we might shuffle people around and he could play nickel. Tyler will probably play a lot Saturday night."
TRADING CARDS SATURDAY TO FIRST 5,000 FANS AT GATES 10 & 21
The UT Medical Center is sponsoring a football trading card set giveaway to the first 5,000 fans at both Gates 10 and 21 for Saturday's game against Vanderbilt. Senior players, Eric Berry and head coach Lane Kiffin are featured in the sets.
