Tennessee Vols' Marquez Callaway now starting receiver with Jauan Jennings sidelined

Marquez Callaway is a backup no more.

The sophomore wide receiver is in line for his first career start after the injury to Jauan Jennings.

Callaway showed in Tennessee’s 42-41 win over Georgia Tech on Monday night that he could be ready for an expanded role.

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Callaway played little and was never targeted before Jennings exited in the second quarter, but the ball started coming Callaway's way after halftime. He finished with four catches for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

“We really needed a spark,” Callaway said.

Tennessee also will need consistency in the absence of their top target.

Coach Butch Jones said Wednesday that Jennings is sidelined indefinitely, though he wouldn’t confirm the nature of Jennings' injury. 

Jennings, who had three catches for 17 yards against Georgia Tech, appeared to injure his wrist after absorbing a big hit from Yellow Jackets defensive back A.J. Gray following a catch over the middle.

A source told USA TODAY NETWORK – Tennessee on Tuesday that Jennings is “probably done for (the) season.”

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Jennings was UT's top returning receiver from 2016, when he had 40 receptions for 580 yards and seven touchdowns. Included in that was his Hail Mary catch to beat Georgia.

“It’s a letdown knowing that he’s not going to be there,” Callaway said. “We’re not going to be able to count on him being out there with us, but when we come to the side, he’s going to be there to give his thoughts and give us what he thinks we could have done better.”

Callaway hauled in catches of 50 and 40 yards Monday, but his best play was when he elevated on a fade route to catch a 10-yard TD pass from Quinten Dormady over Georgia Tech defensive back Lamont Simmons.

Along with Callaway, Jones expects freshman Josh Palmer to ease the loss of Jennings.

“We’re going to need his productivity,” Jones said of Palmer.

Palmer, a true freshman, had one catch for 7 yards against Georgia Tech. He was also open downfield on a post route in the first half, but Dormady didn’t see him and threw into double coverage for an incompletion.

Jeff George is listed as Callaway’s backup at one outside wide receiver spot on the depth chart released Wednesday, and Brandon Johnson is listed as Palmer’s backup. Johnson had three catches for 14 yards Monday.

To help with wide receiver depth, Jones said true freshman Jordan Murphy will not be redshirted.

Among healthy wide receivers, slot Tyler Byrd led the group in receptions last season. He caught 15 passes for 209 yards in 2016, but he dropped a pair of passes and had no receptions against Georgia Tech.

Overall, UT had six dropped passes.

“We have to catch the football on the perimeter,” Jones said. “A dropped pass is like a turnover in our offense. It stifles the momentum.”