Tennessee injury updates: Josh Heupel offers latest on Mike Matthews, Chris Brazzell, more

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel knows he’ll need a capable group of skill position players to help break in new starting quarterback Joey Aguilar this fall. But he’s been limited in fall camp by a handful of injury woes.

The team has only seven scholarship receivers, according to Saturday Down South, and three have been dealing with nagging injuries. The good news? They’re mostly back now.

“Mike (Matthews)‘s been with us for a long time,” Heupel said. “There were a couple days where we limited him. Chris (Brazzell) has been with us here the last few days and Braylon (Staley) was with us this last day as well.”

The minor injury knocks have disrupted the potential for the receivers to further develop chemistry with Aguilar, who was named the team’s starting quarterback recently. Ironing out those kinks with key repetitions will be invaluable over the course of the second half of fall camp into the season.

Matthews has limited experience as is. He caught seven passes for 90 yards and two touchdowns a year ago.

Brazzell is a former Tulane transfer who caught 44 passes for 711 yards and five touchdowns in 2023. He was with the Volunteers last fall and managed to snag 29 passes for 333 yards and two touchdowns. He figures to be a key contributor this fall.

Finally, Staley played a limited role in 2024. He caught three passes for 21 yards.

But all three will be counted on to contribute for Tennessee this fall, injury woes aside. And Aguilar needs them in practice to help develop a rapport ahead of the season. So the latest news is quite good for Tennessee.

Josh Heupel updates Boo Carter’s status

One player who has missed time not due to injury is defensive back Boo Carter. Heupel said Carter is doing a nice job working his way toward being back in better standing with the team.

Heupel updated Carter’s day-to-day status during his press conference on Tuesday morning. He said the sophomore defensive back has grown as a teammate as needed, as he’s “excited and pleased” with where Carter currently stands.

“Yeah, Boo has continued to grow on the things that we’re asking him to, to be a great teammate inside of this building every single day,” said Heupel. “You know, the charge for him, but for all of us, is to continue to do that.

“You know, Boo has continued to grow in what he’s doing on the field, so, you know, I’m excited and pleased with a lot of things we’ve seen from him.”

On3’s Sam Gillenwater also contributed to this report.