Redshirt senior Josh Smith has unfortunately had an injury almost every year while he’s been at Tennessee. And his final year as a Vol has proved to be no different, as he suffered an injury last week that was expected to sideline him for possibly up to two months.
But a report from long-time Knoxville reporter Jimmy Hyams offers up a more positive, less severe diagnosis for the Vols’ receiver.
According to Hyams, Smith didn’t suffer a broken collarbone like originally feared. Instead, Smith reportedly sprained his shoulder and is expected to miss at least the next four weeks.
UT WR Josh Smith has shoulder sprain – not broken collarbone – and expected to be out 4-5 weeks. Hopes to return for Florida game Sept. 16.
— Jimmy Hyams (@JimmyHyams) August 23, 2017
As Hyams points out, Smith is hopeful he can return for the Vols’ road trip to the Swamp to take on the Gators on September 16th. But Tennessee’s game against Florida is roughly three and a half weeks away, which means Smith would need to recover quicker than the timetable listed here by Hyams.
Throughout his career at Tennessee, Josh Smith has missed 12 of a possible 51 games he could’ve played in over the last four years for the Vols. Now it appears he will miss at least another two or three this season.
Smith enters his final year with the Vols with 58 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns in 39 career games.
