With Vols' Cortez McDowell added to injury heap, where will Tennessee turn?

Tennessee linebackers coach Tommy Thigpen described football as “a gladiator sport” during his stop at the Knoxville Quarterback Club on Monday. More Vols are dropping from the arena by the day.

Add Cortez McDowell to the list of injured Vols.

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Coach Butch Jones on Monday said McDowell, Tennessee’s starting weak-side linebacker, is out for the season after injuring his wrist in Saturday’s game against Florida.

“We’re going to miss him, not only from a defensive standpoint but from a special teams standpoint, as well,” Jones said.

McDowell exited early in the third quarter after getting roughed up on a block by Gators tight end Moral Stephens.

McDowell joins Darrin Kirkland Jr. and Austin Smith as injured linebackers who were pegged for prominent roles. 

Kirkland was in line to start at middle linebacker until suffering a season-ending knee injury in August. Smith (knee) has yet to play this season and isn’t listed on the depth chart for Saturday’s game against Massachusetts (noon ET, SEC Network).

Search begins for McDowell's replacement

The question becomes: How will UT address its linebacking corps?

The Vols might use a nickel package predominantly, requiring only two linebackers on the field.

UT played a lot of 4-3 defense against Georgia Tech and Indiana State but leaned on the nickel against Florida. The Vols also played a lot of nickel last season.

For one, that package gets nickelback Rashaan Gaulden on the field.

“Rashaan, obviously, is one of the leaders of our defense and one of our best players on defense,” Jones said. “We need to get him on the field as much as possible.”

Also, the nickel is a useful alignment in defending the spread offenses that permeate the SEC.

McDowell ranks third on the team with 24 tackles. Quart'e Sapp filled in for McDowell after his injury and made a career-high seven tackles against the Gators.

A knee injury limited Sapp, a sophomore, to two games last season.

“He’s an individual who has worked really, really hard,” Jones said, “and has been waiting for his opportunity. … And now, his opportunity has presented itself even that much more.”

More:Vols delve into details of Florida loss, 'nuances' of play calls

Jones didn’t say whether Sapp would step into McDowell’s position against UMass.

Tennessee also has the matter of what to do with Daniel Bituli, who leads the team with 33 tackles. He played strong-side linebacker through two games, but that position is replaced by the nickelback in the nickel package.

Bituli started at middle linebacker against Florida. Colton Jumper replaced him during the first defensive series, and Jumper played the majority of snaps the rest of the way.

“I think as the season progresses, in particular going into this week, you’re going to see Daniel Bituli growing more and more into his position, defensively,” Jones said.

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Asked whether Bituli might shift to weak-side linebacker, Jones said he’s focused on the sophomore learning the middle linebacker spot first.

“We don’t want to let the mind tie the feet up, so to speak,” Jones said. “We just want him to focus on one position.”

Jones said Bituli is still getting comfortable making the defensive calls. Jumper is adept at making the calls. One possibility might be to shift Jumper, who has made 24 tackles, to weak-side linebacker and have him make the defensive calls from that position while playing Bituli at middle linebacker.

McDowell the latest in a string of injuries

Jones also confirmed that wide receiver Jauan Jennings is out for the season after injuring his wrist against Georgia Tech. Jones had previously labeled Jennings as out indefinitely.

Plus, safety Todd Kelly Jr. remains out indefinitely. He didn’t play against Florida.

GoVols247 reported that Kelly has a knee injury that dates to last season. Jones said Kelly, the team’s leading tackler last season, is getting a second opinion on his injury.

More:Vols safeties Todd Kelly Jr., Evan Berry miss Florida game with injury

Micah Abernathy and Nigel Warrior started at safety in each of the first three games. Jones said they played every snap defensively against Florida, with their backups – Kelly and Evan Berry – not available. Berry, who is also the first-string kick returner, got hurt in the season opener and hasn’t played since then.