Butch Jones indicated that Cam Sutton’s injury could be serious, but said he would need more time to know the extent of it after the senior cornerback went down against Ohio on Saturday afternoon and had trainers attend to his foot/ankle injury.
“Cam Sutton will be out for an extended period of time,” Jones said. “I will know a little bit more tomorrow. I feel for him and his family. This is an individual who is a role model for what a student-athlete is and what it takes to prepare week-in and week-out. You give me 11 [players like] Cam Sutton, and we will win a lot of football games. It is very unfortunate. Football is a humbling game. As a football family, we will be there for him.”
That injury might be a broken bone in his right foot or ankle, according to 247Sports.
There are a variety of timetables for that type of recovery, but even the most optimistic would put Sutton out for the meat of UT’s SEC schedule. It would seem that there’s at least the possibility that the senior, who opted to return to UT for a final year instead of entering the draft, could be out for the year.
Sutton’s extended absence will provide more opportunities for freshman cornerback Baylen Buchanan, who played well in relief on Saturday against the Bobcats.
“We have really challenged him with his intensity,” Jones said. “During the last week, he has really stepped it up. He is a youngster that has had a great advantage, learning from the best-of-the-best in Cam Sutton. I think he has gained confidence as the season has progressed. You never know. You’re always one play away. He was our fourth or fifth corner, and then all of a sudden, he was on the field for three and a half quarters, helping us win a football game.”
Look for Alvin Kamara to take over primary punt return duties in Sutton’s absence.
