Tennessee’s starting middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. could be out for a while with a knee injury suffered in practice.
On Friday, middle linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. sustained a non-contact knee injury in practice that will sideline the junior for the opener against Georgia Tech — and possibly longer — sources told VolQuest.com.
The full-extent of Kirkland’s injury is unknown at this time, but there’s fear that the linebacker may miss significant time.
Tennessee plays Georgia Tech on Mon. Sept. 4.
Kirkland is projected to start inside for Tennessee and had 45 tackles a year ago. He was hobbled by an ankle injury suffered vs. Virginia Tech and made just seven starts in 2016. He had 66 tackles in 10 starts as a freshman in 2015.
He’s one of seven returning starters on a Tennessee defense that needs to replace the sack production of departed players Derek Barnett and Corey Vereen. The two accounted for 20 of Tennessee’s 30 sacks in 2016.
For more Tennessee news, visit Volquest.com.
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Nick Bromberg is the editor of Dr. Saturday and From the Marbles on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!
