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Tennessee's top wide receiver, Mike Matthews, is expected to miss the remainder of the 2026 season due to a knee injury sustained in the Volunteers' 22-7 win over Texas A&M, according to a report from On3.
Matthews was seen on crutches on the sideline after the injury, which occurred after he had recorded two catches for 42 yards. He ranks second on the team with 39 receptions, just one behind Braylon Staley's 40, but Matthews is the only player with over 500 receiving yards. He leads the team with 608 yards and four touchdowns, while Staley has 343 yards and no other Vol has more than 200. Every other Tennessee player has combined to catch seven touchdowns.
In 2025, Matthews had 53 catches for 813 yards and four scores over 13 games. He could be an early-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft, though the late-season injury may open the door further for a return to Knoxville.
Matthews' absence is a huge loss for an offense that's having to lean on the run game as much as it can. George MacIntyre has been Tennessee's starter, but he was replaced by Week 1 starter Faizon Brandon because of a knee injury in the second half of the win over the Aggies. Through 10 games, Brandon and MacIntyre have combined to go 154-of-237 passing for 1,688 yards and 11 touchdowns with four interceptions. Both are averaging around seven yards per pass attempt.
Key Analysis
Tennessee has a clear path to the College Football Playoff with wins over LSU and Vanderbilt in the final two weeks of the regular season. And if more teams ahead of them lose games, Tennessee could even be positioned to host a home playoff game. The loss of Matthews, however, puts additional pressure on the Volunteers' passing attack, which has already been inconsistent and now must rely on less experienced receivers. The team's ability to adapt will be crucial in determining its postseason fate.
Originally reported by yahoo.