TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES
Tennessee (7-2, 4-2 Southeastern Conference) will be without its sack leader when LSU (6-3, 3-3 SEC) heads to Knoxville on Nov. 21. Volunteers defensive end Tyree Weathersby suffered a season-ending left knee injury in a 34-6 win over Kentucky (7-2, 5-2 SEC) on Saturday, according to multiple reports. The senior is tied for third in the SEC with seven sacks this season.
Weathersby was injured in the third quarter of the win while trying to track down Kentucky quarterback Kenny Minchey in the backfield. He did not return to the game and left Neyland Stadium on crutches.
The Volunteers’ defensive front has been the strength of the team. Tennessee holds the second-ranked scoring defense in the conference (15.11 points allowed per game), ranks first in sacks (39) and gives up the second-fewest passing yards per game (172.11). In the win over the Wildcats, the defense added four sacks to their season total, forced two fumbles and grabbed an interception.
Weathersby led Tennessee’s explosive pass rush and also recorded 20 tackles and 8.5 tackles for loss – third on the team. The 6-foot-5, 268-pounder ranks second on the team in quarterback pressures (24) per Pro Football Focus.The Volunteers still have junior Xavier Gilliam on the edge, who trails Weathersby with six sacks this season. Sophomore Maryon Dye and senior Jordan Norman will likely be asked to step up with Weathersby sidelined. Dye is third on the team with five sacks while Norman has 2.5.
LSU has given up the fifth-fewest sacks of any SEC team in 2026. The Tigers have allowed opposing teams to bring down the quarterback just 17 times, but Sam Leavitt’s escapability and conversion to a runner has helped keep the sack total low. The Tigers will face two dynamic pass rushes in Texas and Tennessee over the next two weeks.
Starting LSU right tackle Weston Davis exited the Tigers’ loss to Alabama on crutches in the third quarter. His status with an apparent ankle injury is unknown as LSU prepares for a last-ditch effort to save its season against two top 15 opponents in back-to-back weeks.
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