Dont'e Thornton injury update: Latest on Tennessee WR after second-half setback

Tennessee Volunteers wide receiver Dont'e Thornton has suffered an injury in Week 6 of the 2024 college football season. The senior-year wide receiver got hurt early in the second half of his side's game against the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Let's examine what happened to Thornton and the chances of his return to action.

What happened to Dont'e Thornton?

According to Sports Illustrated, Dont'e Thornton suffered a lower-body injury on the first drive of the second half. The experienced pass catcher seems to be dealing with a knee issue, and he promptly checked himself out of the game.

According to the report, Thornton kept holding the affected knee. It's unlikely that he'll be able to return to action immediately after the setback. Lower body injuries, especially knee injuries, are hard to predict in American football, especially with wide receivers. Their position requires a lot of cutting, which mainly affects the knee and the rest of the lower body. It's highly unlikely that Thornton will return to action against the Razorbacks.

How has Dont'e Thornton performed this season?

Dont'e Thornton has been with the Tennessee Volunteers since he transferred from the Oregon Ducks at the end of the 2022 college football season. Thornton performed admirably in 2024, amassing seven catches, 242 receiving yards, and a career-high three touchdowns.

His performances have helped the Tennessee Volunteers maintain an unbeaten record heading into Week 6 of the 2024 CFB season. However, it's unclear how long his lower-body injury will keep him out of action.

In the meantime, expect one of Nathan Leacock, Mike Matthews, or Braylon Staley to absorb his targets. The Volunteers also saw starting wide receiver Bru McCoy go down with a wrist/hand injury, but McCoy was able to return to action after some heavy taping.

The Volunteers have crunch games against the Florida Gators, Alabama Crimson Tide and Kentucky Wildcats on their schedule. They'll need all the elite help they can get, especially in their wide receiver room.