Mike Matthews Injury Updates: Latest On Leading Tennessee Receiver After Hurting Knee

As Tennessee continues its push for an SEC championship game berth and a spot in the College Football Playoff, it may have to do so without one of its best offensive players.

Vols wide receiver Mike Matthews left the team's Week 11 game at Texas A&M in the second quarter with an injury on Saturday, Nov. 14.

The injury occurred after Matthews brought in a 17-yard pass to get Tennessee a first down at the Texas A&M 11-yard line. Matthews was brought down to the turf awkwardly by a group of Aggies defenders as he was fighting for extra yardage. After the play was over, Matthews remained on the turf in visible pain and took his helmet off.

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He was helped off of the field by trainers and taken into the injury tent on the Vols' sideline at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas.

Matthews is Tennessee's leading receiver this season, with 37 catches for 566 yards and four touchdowns heading into Saturday's game.

Here's the latest on Matthews' injury:

Mike Matthews injury update

As Matthews was being helped off the field, he was unable to put any weight on his right leg, offering some insight into the kind of pain he was enduring.

According to ESPN sideline reporter Taylor McGregor, Matthews was "very emotional" as he came to the sideline and "you could tell he was in a lot of pain."

ESPN's broadcast crew later noted that it was a knee injury.

After going into the injury tent, Matthews reemerged with crutches and appeared to be heading back to the Tennessee locker room, but the severity of his injury has not yet been determined.

Tennessee WR Mike Matthews exits the field on crutches. pic.twitter.com/bZFmPK5FfO

— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) November 14, 2026

Before exiting the game, Matthews had two catches for 42 yards. The reception on which he was injured helped set up a 30-yard field goal to get the No. 9 Vols within one, 7-6. Tennessee enters the game with a 7-2 record and a 4-2 mark in the SEC, which helped it get to No. 8 in the latest playoff selection committee rankings.

"Mike was playing really well," Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his halftime interview with ESPN. "The next guy's got to step up."

Despite that success, the Vols have dealt with nine season-ending injuries to players this season: running back Daune Morris (broken leg); starting defensive end Tyree Weathersby (knee); starting left guard Wendell Moe; starting safety Edrees Farooq (knee); starting tight end Ethan Davis (knee); safety Dylan Lewis (foot); wide receiver/kick returner Joakim Dodson (leg); linebacker Jaedon Harmon (knee); and cornerback Jadais Richard (upper-body).

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mike Matthews injury updates: Latest on leading Tennessee receiver after hurting knee