Jourdan Thomas injury: Josh Heupel’s Tennessee faces major blow as DB set to miss 2024 season due to injury

Jourdan Thomas, an expected starter for Josh Heupel’s Tennessee Volunteers in the upcoming season, suffered a knee injury during fall camp practice on Sunday. The defensive back is now presumed to miss the entire 2024 season, dealing a blow to the Vols' plans for the year.

Thomas’ tryst with injuries isn't new, as the junior DB has suffered many knocks in his two years at Tennessee. Still, he played an important role for the team last year, filling in whenever needed in the secondary.

The news of Thomas' injury came through On3’s Tennessee reporter Austin Price. According to the report, Thomas will require surgery and a long rehabilitation process to fully heal his knee. He was the most likely starter at the nickel position for coach Heupel’s defense. The junior is still expected to retain his two years of eligibility after possibly missing the upcoming season.

Thomas made 12 appearances for the Volunteers last season, one of which was a start. He registered 18 tackles, two tackles for a loss and helped block one punt. Overall, he was a part of 219 defensive snaps.

Heupel will have to look elsewhere to fill the nickel position. This could mean giving freshman defensive back Boo Carter a chance to make an impact.

Josh Heupel’s take on Jourdan Thomas before injury

Heupel has raved about Thomas’ leadership skills, not knowing he would soon have to plan the entire season without him. According to the coach, his DB room, including Thomas, feeds off each other and shows great leadership skills:

“We have good leadership inside of that room. Andre Turrentine is a guy who does a dynamic job in a leadership role. Will Brooks has been around for a long time. He does a nice job. Jourdan Thomas, those are all guys who are on our leadership council as well.

"The young guys that are in that room, or the new guys, are really mature in who they are and how they compete every day. It’s a group that feeds off of each other." [H/T On3]

Syndication: The Knoxville News-Sentinel - Image Source: Imagn: Tennessee defensive back Jourdan Thomas (25) celebrates a play during football game between Tennessee and Ball State at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville, Tenn. on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022.

The Alabama native will be cheering for the team this season and hopes they do well without him.