KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee's 49-10 loss to Alabama on Saturday was another costly one on the injury front as running back Alvin Kamara suffered an injury to his left knee, leaving his status for the rest of the year uncertain.
The fear is that Kamara damaged his lateral collateral ligament (LCL) and possibly his meniscus, sources told ESPN.com. He's scheduled to be further evaluated.
At his weekly news conference Tuesday, head coach Butch Jones declined to get into specifics about Kamara's injury, saying, "Everything is wait and see."
The Vols have an open date this week and face South Carolina on Oct. 29.
Kamara, who set a school record with 312 all-purpose yards in a 45-38 double-overtime loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 8, appeared to be shaken up in the first quarter against Alabama on a punt return. He carried the ball eight times for 21 yards in the game.
Jones confirmed that sophomore defensive tackle Kahlil McKenzie is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle against Alabama. Sophomore offensive lineman Jack Jones tore a tendon in his hand and underwent surgery, but is hopeful of returning in two weeks against South Carolina.
"We have a lot of guys that are injured and banged up," Jones said. "It's been a long, long season."
More than 10 players in the starting rotation have missed games, including some of the Vols' best players such as running back Jalen Hurd, cornerback Cam Sutton and linebackers Jalen Reeves-Maybin and Darrin Kirkland Jr.
Reeves-Maybin, one of four team captains, is out for the rest of the season, but Kirkland hopes to return for the South Carolina game.
"I've never been through a year like this in coaching, ever," Jones said.
The surgery for Reeves-Maybin, who had 206 total tackles over the past two seasons, likely ends his college career, though the senior from Clarksville, Tennessee, hasn't completely ruled out the possibility of seeking a medical redshirt. Reeves-Maybin already has earned his degree.
"My legacy probably could have been a little different if I would have played this whole year, but I still think I'm a leader of this team, a captain," Reeves-Maybin said. "I still think I can help us win games. I think I still have a lot of respect [from] all my teammates. I still feel like I have a job to do."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.