Both staff writer Ben McKee and managing editor Nathanael Rutherford contributed to today’s practice notes
Tennessee was back out on the practice field on Tuesday afternoon following a closed practice on Monday. The Vols were in shells, and there was a lot to observe during the open periods of today’s practice.
At quarterback, both Brian Maurer and Jarrett Guarantano went through individual drills. Both signal callers are injured, and head coach Jeremy Pruitt said Guarantano would be limited to start practice this week after having surgery on his left wrist on Sunday. Maurer, meanwhile, was held out of Saturday’s game against South Carolina after suffering repeated blows to the head and neck in back-to-back games against Mississippi State and Alabama.
The quarterback order through the drills was usually JT Shrout, Guarantano, Maurer, then wide receiver Jauan Jennings. Maurer went first a couple times, but Shrout — who was the first true quarterback to take a snap on Saturday — was typically the first one up for the individual periods.
Jennings going through quarterback drills is noteworthy. The redshirt senior played several snaps as a wildcat quarterback against the Gamecocks on Saturday, and it appears the coaches are getting him ready for more of that same role moving forward.
Along the offensive line, two key Vol contributors weren’t going through drills with the rest of the unit. Both Darnell Wright and Jahmir Johnson were limited on Tuesday. Wright exited Saturday’s game in the first half and never returned to the contest. Johnson has been limited multiple times this fall in practices, and he missed a handful of games earlier this season. Johnson filled in for Wright on Saturday against South Carolina.
On Monday, Pruitt said Wright would be “day-to-day” this week.
Tennessee will hold another open portion of practice on Wednesday. Head coach Jeremy Pruitt will address the media after practice and will likely give injury updates on several Vols.
