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BREAKING: Josh Smith sidelined with ligament damage, season in question

Following another significant injury, Josh Smith may have played his last game for the Vols.

Tennessee’s fifth-year senior wideout aggravated his ankle during the second half of the loss at Kentucky, and sources tell VolQuest.com that Smith suffered ligament damage that puts the final four games of his Tennessee career in question.

The local Knoxville Christian product caught a 13-yard crossing route on the opening play of second half and immediately went down, needing assistance off the field. Smith was later carted to the locker room and did not return to the sideline.

Earlier on Monday, Tennessee coach Butch Jones said Smith “will definitely be out” against Southern Miss this Saturday.

Tennessee (3-5) has four regular season games remaining, but if the Vols were to become bowl eligible then there’s a chance Smith could possibly return to action, depending on how his ankle heals, per sources.

The 6-foot-1, 206-pound receiver has been snakebite by a litany of injuries throughout his time at Tennessee, missing six games in the last two seasons due to various dings. Smith also missed seven games as freshman and required a redshirt year in 2014 due to a season-ending ankle injury. Smith underwent double-groin surgery in January and then injured his collarbone late in training camp this year.

The senior worked his way back rather quickly, though, only missing the first two games of the season, returning to action against Florida. On the season, Smith has just five catches for 43 yards.

For his career, Smith has 63 receptions for 764 yards and five touchdowns.

With Smith likely sidelined for the year, he becomes the seventh member of Tennessee’s offense with a season-ending injury, joining offensive tackle Chance Hall, quarterback Quinten Dormady, wideout Jauan Jennings, wideout Jacquez Jones, offensive lineman K’Rojhn Calbert and offensive guard Jack Jones.

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