Vanderbilt football will be without Aaron Bryant for the remainder of the 2026 season due to a torn ACL, Clark Lea announced Sept. 15.
Jaylin Lackey and Cole Spence are also out for the game against NC State, while Jamison Curtis is "week to week." Lackey has a persistent hamstring injury that will take "a little time." Spence has a leg injury for which he has been seen in a substantial knee brace.
"(Bryant is) going to have knee surgery, ACL repair," Lea said. "Unfortunately we lost him in the game against Delaware. I am just heartbroken for him. He has worked so hard and was having a great start to the season. ... Spence won't be with us on Saturday playing but we're encouraged with the progress he's making, so still week to week, not going to be this
week, but if he continues to move forward the way he has, there's a chance that he could be available for something against Auburn."
Vanderbilt (2-0) will take on NC State (1-1) in its final non-conference game of the season on Sept. 19 (11:45 a.m. CT, SEC Network) before beginning SEC play. In that game, 5-star freshman quarterback Jared Curtis will get his first career start.
Spence has yet to play this season due to the injury but he has 25 receptions for 334 yards and four touchdowns across 29 career games played.
Lackey also has not played this season due to injury. Curtis recorded one tackle across two games played and Bryant appeared in two games but did not record any statistics.
Aria Gerson covers Vanderbilt athletics for The Tennessean. Contact her at agerson@gannett.com or on X @aria_gerson.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Vanderbilt football injury update on Cole Spence, Aaron Bryant, Jaylin Lackey
