Tight end Ethan Davis is out for the year with a torn ACL, already the fifth Tennessee football player to suffer a season-ending injury in this very young season.
Is this a reason for UT fans to panic? Or is it just part of the game?
On this podcast episode of "The Volunteer State," beat writer Adam Sparks and columnist John Adams react to the bad news of Davis' injury and how the Vols
adjust to the loss.Knox News hosts 'The Volunteer State' postgame show
But first, a quick programming note: If you enjoy "The Volunteer State" on your favorite podcast app, you should check out our postgame live show on the Knox News YouTube channel. It starts just as Tennessee's football game ends, as Knox News sports reporter Emmett Siegel and video specialist Sophie Szydlik react to the result and take your questions.
The 14th-ranked Vols (2-0) play Kennesaw State (1-1) on Sept. 19 (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium.
On this podcast episode, Sparks and Adams review Faizon Brandon's performance in a 45-24 win over Georgia Tech, react to Davis' injury and discuss DaSaahn Brame's potential as a replacement.
To hear the full discussion, listen to the 49-minute podcast. Here's one key topic.
Is Tennessee football jinxed by season-ending injuries?
There's a sentiment that Davis' injury is just a trend on bad luck for the Vols, who have been plagued by season-ending injuries early in the schedule in recent years.
The most recent example was the 2025 season. All-America cornerback Jermod McCoy tore his ACL in the offseason, and starting cornerback Rickey Gibson suffered an season-ending injury in the first game of the season. Linebacker Keenan Pili and wide receiver Bru McCoy are other examples of season-injuries to key players in recent seasons.
Adams said fans notice when players on their team suffer injuries, but they don't keep tabs on other teams. Sparks said the Vols have already gotten their fair share of the injury bug this season, but not every injured player hurts the team to the same degree.
Which season-ending injury is costliest for Tennessee?
Here's how Sparks ranked UT's season-ending injuries in terms of impact on the team.
- Ethan Davis (ACL): This could be the costliest injury because of how it impacts the offense. The Vols are now limited to two tight ends, at most, who can likely play to a starting-caliber level. South Alabama transfer Trent Thomas is mostly a blocking tight end. Brame has a skillset similar to Davis, but he's young and inexperienced. Davis' absence could influence UT to utilize more formations with three wide receivers rather than two tight ends.
- Edrees Farooq (knee): This is perhaps not as costly as Davis' injury because Farooq's replacement has played so well. Penn State transfer Dejuan Lane has two pass breakups and an interception returned for a touchdown. So far, the Vols have compensated at safety. Davis and Farooq could flip on this list later in the season. They're both key losses.
- Joakim Dodson (leg): The backup receiver and primary kick returner had a strong preseason. The Vols could mitigate his loss at either position. However, if starting slot receiver Braylon Staley suffered an injury, Dodson's absence would be felt more. For now, freshman Tyreek King, a former Knox Catholic, is in that backup slot receiver spot.
- Jaedon Harmon (knee): Harmon wasn't going to crack the primary rotation at linebacker because that group is loaded with talent and experience. But he was a key fixture on special teams, where he ranked second on the squad with 209 snaps last season.
- Jadais Richard (upper-body): It's hard to say if this injury will have any impact. Richard was a role player at Miami in 2024 but injured in 2025. And he hasn't played a snap at UT and might never do so.
That's just one topic. To hear the full discussion, listen to the podcast.
Adam Sparks is the Tennessee football beat reporter. Email adam.sparks@knoxnews.com. X, formerly known as Twitter@AdamSparks. Support strong local journalism by subscribing at knoxnews.com/subscribe.
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This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Is Tennessee football jinxed by season-ending injuries? Let's discuss
