Virginia Football Injury Report: Hoos In/Out for the Tennessee Game?

Tony Elliott provided availability updates on Chico Bennett and a few other injured Cavaliers for Saturday's season opener against Tennessee

Ahead of Saturday's Virginia football season opener against Tennessee, UVA head coach Tony Elliott provided updates on a few injured Cavaliers and their availability for the game. 

The headliner is that graduate defensive end Chico Bennett Jr., widely considered to be UVA's best defensive player this season, is OUT for the game against Tennessee as he continues to recover from a knee injury suffered during fall camp. Elliott said that Bennett "was pushing for this week", but will not be available for the game, so he is absent from Virginia's depth chart. Following a minor procedure to remove some bone chips from his knee, Bennett is now moving and walking much better and has started to do some running during practice. Elliott said that it's "realistic" to expect Bennett to return for UVA's week 2 game against James Madison. In his stead, Kam Butler and Paul Akere are lined up at the Bandit position on the defensive line and Ben Smiley is expected to get the bulk of the snaps at defensive end. 

READ MORE: Virginia Football Releases Depth Chart for Season Opener vs. Tennessee

Fifth-year safety Antonio Clary, who missed most of fall camp with a high ankle sprain, is also not listed on the depth chart. Elliott said Clary will be a game-time decision for the Tennessee game, so he could play limited snaps, but it's not very likely. Sophomore running back Xavier Brown and senior safety Donovan Johnson are both still multiple weeks away from returning, according to Elliott. 

On the offensive line, Virginia is still missing Penn State transfer Jimmy Christ, who is "a week away" from returning, and sophomore tackle Houston Curry, who is still a couple of weeks away from returning to the field. But, Elliott was pleased to report that sophomore tackle McKale Boley and Dayton transfer Brian Stevens are back on the field and expected to be in the starting lineup. Virginia's depth chart lists the following as the starting offensive line for the Tennessee game: LT McKale Boley, LG Noah Josey, C Ty Furnish, RG Brian Stevens, RT Ugonna Nnanna. 

Virginia opens the 2023 football season against Tennessee on Saturday at 12pm at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. The game will be broadcast on ABC. 

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