Vols' Darrin Kirkland Jr. being evaluated for injury
Dan Fleser
Tennessee linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr.'s playing status for the season opener and perhaps longer is in doubt because of injury.
UT spokesman Zach Stipe said via text message Sunday night that Kirkland was being evaluated after suffering an injury but didn't specify its nature. The 6-foot-1, 238-pound junior suffered a knee injury in Friday's practice, according to a report Saturday night by GoVols247, which cited multiple sources.
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Stipe said all future updates regarding Kirkland will come from UT coach Butch Jones, whose next scheduled media availability is Wednesday.
More:Find out when Vols play | 2017 Tennessee football schedule: Dates, times, TV and radio info
The Vols open against Georgia Tech on Sept. 4 in Atlanta.
Kirkland's status was limited to start preseason practice. But within two weeks, he had progressed to the point "where we were expecting him to be," UT defensive coordinator Bob Shoop said on Aug. 11.
Kirkland suffered a high ankle sprain last season against Virginia Tech on Sept. 10 and was limited to eight games.
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