KNOXVILLE - Tennessee's wide receiver corps took a hit over the weekend when fifth-year senior Josh Smith suffered a collarbone injury in practice.
Coach Butch Jones said a timetable has not been set for Smith's return but later added that he anticipates Smith being out for Tennessee's Sept. 4 season opener against Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
Smith missed spring practice with another injury but returned for preseason practice and appeared set for significant playing time as a slot receiver in first-year coordinator Larry Scott's offense.
Jones said he will share an updated time frame after Smith's CT scan has been evaluated.
"He's definitely in our thoughts and prayers," sophomore receiver Brandon Johnson said after Monday's practice. "We'll definitely keep him lifted up. I know it's tough on him, but he'll be back out here."
Smith has battled injuries throughout his career. An ankle injury sidelined him in the third game of the 2014 season and required season-ending surgery. He was granted a medical redshirt year.
The Knoxville native returned to play in 25 games and make 36 catches over the past two seasons.
Smith's absence opens the door for younger players to play more at the slot position. Jones mentioned sophomore Tyler Byrd, redshirt freshman Latrell Williams and freshmen Jordan Murphy and Josh Palmer as players taking reps in the slot position.
"We'll miss the experience at the beginning with Josh," Jones said. "But we have some individuals that are very, very talented."
Johnson is another player in the group of young receivers who will be relied upon to help replace the production of NFL draft pick Josh Malone and running back Alvin Kamara, who was used heavily in the passing game last season.
Johnson made seven catches for 93 yards last season and is emerging with Byrd and Marquez Callaway to form a sophomore trio who collectively will be relied upon to emerge behind number one receiver Jauan Jennings.
"Right now as a receiving corps, we've all got to step up," Johnson said. "Everybody's been trained in all positions. So we all know what to do at this point. (Smith) is in our prayers, but we've got to keep on going."
Though Tennessee's offense has continued to struggle with continuity during preseason practice due to injuries on the offensive line, Johnson said he likes where the passing game is, thanks in part to this summer's player-organized 7-on-7 passing drills.
"If we hadn't done that in the summer, I feel like we wouldn't be as smooth as we are right now," Johnson said. "Things wouldn't be moving as well as they are right now."
Losing Smith means losing the receiver group's most veteran player. But Johnson expects to see his teammate back to finish his Tennessee career in fitting fashion.
"He's a fighter, he's a dog," Johnson said. "So honestly, I feel like he's going to come back stronger than ever. He never quits, as y'all have seen before."
Contact David Cobb at dcobb@timesfreepress.com.