Tennessee freshman receiver Robert Meachem will be out for up to 12 weeks and likely will miss the season following surgery yesterday to repair torn meniscus in his right knee.
The damage to Meachem's knee was more extensive than originally thought. Doctors had to repair the torn meniscus rather than simply removing it, meaning his recovery time will be longer.
The initial diagnosis was that Meachem might be back for the Marshall game on Sept. 6. He clearly would have played this season, and according to Phillip Fulmer, was as far along as any freshman receiver the Vols' coach had seen come through the Tennessee program.
''It's a real blow to our football team and to him, but we'll pick up and go right on,'' Fulmer said. ''I've been encouraged by those other young receivers and the group as a whole.
''We had to do the right thing for the young man long term and short term. He couldn't have played.''
Fulmer said it was too early to say that the 6-foot-3, 200-pound Meachem would redshirt for sure. But barring a rash of other injuries at receiver, the Vols almost certainly wouldn't burn a whole year of eligibility for two or three games.
A 12-week recovery would get Meachem back in time for the final two regular-season games against Vanderbilt and Kentucky and any possible postseason games.
Fulmer said Meachem wasn't sure how he suffered the injury. He played in last Tuesday's situational scrimmage, but was sidelined the next day with a wrap on his knee. An MRI later in the week confirmed the meniscus damage.
Fulmer said Jonathan Wade would lean more to receiver than defensive back. The plan now is to play Wade on defense primarily when the Vols go to their Mustang package of six defensive backs. Otherwise, he'll remain at receiver.
Freshman receiver Jayson Swain has missed the last week with a groin pull, but Fulmer said Bill Grimes had developed as quickly as any of the freshmen.
Fulmer said defensive tackle J.T. Mapu won't require surgery on his sprained left knee, but added that it would probably be ''wishful thinking'' for Mapu to return in time for the opener against Fresno State.
Bring on the band: The Vols had a visit from the Pride of the Southland Band yesterday morning as they were finishing up practice.
The entire band marched down to the baseball field with Rocky Top blaring. Quarterback Casey Clausen even directed the band from the conductor's stand before they left.
''Especially with this being the last day of two-a-days, it was kind of nice to finish it up with the band coming out for us,'' Clausen said. ''I got the chills a little bit, got hyped up.
''You see them out there practicing just like us, two-a-days. At 6 o'clock in the morning, you see them working on their stuff.''
Fulmer said it was actually band director Gary Sousa's idea to play for the Vols.
''He called and said, 'We'd like to do something for you,' '' Fulmer said. ''I said, 'Great, come down around 8:30.'
''We appreciate all the work they do to get ready for a season. I think that kind of livened up practice.''
Riggs update: Running back Gerald Riggs Jr. was on crutches and missed both practices yesterday with a foot injury.
Fulmer said further tests would be run on Riggs' foot, but that he didn't think it was serious. Riggs isn't expected to scrimmage tonight.
Running back Corey Larkins returned to practice yesterday after missing Saturday's scrimmage with an ankle injury.
Fulmer also said he hopes to get offensive tackle Sean Young back sometime this week. Young injured his knee last week, but did a few things on the side yesterday.
With Young out, Anthony Herrera worked some at right tackle and Jason Respert at left guard yesterday with the first-team offensive line.
Receiver James Banks missed the morning practice with a sore foot, but was back for the night practice ? and wearing a green jersey.
Johnson gets look: Fulmer said junior college newcomer Brandon Johnson would work almost exclusively at cornerback during tonight's scrimmage.
The Vols are looking for another starter at cornerback alongside Jabari Greer, who probably won't scrimmage tonight with a sprained ankle.
Johnson, who can also play safety, worked with the first team at cornerback during both practices yesterday. With Greer out, the other starter at cornerback was Jason Allen.
Back in action: Returning to practice were receiver C.J. Fayton and defensive end Parys Haralson, who hopes to scrimmage tonight.
On further review: After watching the tape of Saturday's scrimmage, Fulmer said the defensive problems were more about consistency and less about being manhandled physically.
''It's never as good as you think it is or never as bad as you think it is,'' Fulmer said
The top order of business on defense, he said, was getting everyone healthy and back on the field. But he said there's no question that the Vols must improve up front.
''It's not an effort thing,'' Fulmer said. ''I do think there's enough ability to hold up in there and maybe even be good. But we haven't been anywhere near as consistent from a gap control standpoint as we need to be and certainly are well behind from a pass rush standpoint.
''I'm hopeful we can see some strides that way [tonight], realizing that it's going to be an ongoing process during the course of the year.''
No moves: Fulmer said he doesn't anticipate moving anybody from the offensive line to help at defensive tackle.
''We've got eight defensive tackles and six or seven defensive ends,'' Fulmer said. ''The numbers are about right. We've just got to play up to the level that we can play up to. If I thought there was a fix somewhere, I'd certainly make that move. But that's not going to happen.''
Orange slices: Center Scott Wells missed both practices because of a death in the family.
? Returning to practice were receiver C.J. Fayton and defensive end Parys Haralson, who hopes to scrimmage tonight.
? The appeal on freshman defensive tackle Tony McDaniel will be heard today. The Vols hope he will receive full qualifier status for this season. He's already a partial qualifier and practicing with the team.
