Mike Matthews injury update: Tennessee wide receiver sidelined during Sunday practice

Tennessee wide receiver Mike Matthews was sidelined from Sunday’s practice due to an apparent injury, according to Adam Sparks of the Knoxville News Sentinel. The injury, while not specified, “appeared minor and day to day,” per the report.

Instead of practicing, he stretched and wore a jersey instead of pads on the field. It’s unclear what caused his injury.

Matthews’ injury highlights depth concerns at the position, as fellow wideout Chris Brazzell has also missed time during fall camp with injury. His ailment is also unspecified, leaving only a handful of scholarship wideouts healthy for practice on Sunday.

Those wide receivers are Braylon Staley, Amari Jefferson, Travis Smith, Radarius Jackson and Joakim Dodson. All five are redshirt freshmen or true freshmen. Staley is the only one of the group who has seen action in a college game, while Jefferson is an incoming transfer from Alabama who missed all of last season with injury.

It’s a stark contrast from last year’s experienced group featuring Dont’e Thornton, Bru McCoy and Squirrel White. Thornton was drafted in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft by the Las Vegas Raiders, McCoy retired from football and White is playing for Florida State this season.

Matthews is a former five-star recruit, but wasn’t used all that often among the Vols’ experienced lineup last season. He caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 12.9 yards per catch as a true freshman. Matthews appeared in just four games, so he should be able to utilize his redshirt to maintain four years of eligibility. He scored in half of those matchups.

He was expected to take a major leap in 2025 as one of incoming transfer quarterback Joey Aguilar‘s top options out wide. For the time being, at least, Matthews will need to focus on his health before he can re-take the field. Based on the report, it appears he’s in solid position to do so before Week 1 later this month.

Tennessee will kick its 2025 season off against Syracuse as a part of the Aflac Kickoff event. It will be a neutral-site game inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. The Vols are looking to get off to a fast start against the Orange. With Georgia looming in Week 3, a season-opening victory is that much more important for the Vols on Aug. 30.