Tennessee starting tight end Ethan Davis suffered a season-ending ACL injury in Week 2, Vols coach Josh Heupel announced Monday.
Davis recorded touchdown receptions in each of No. 15 Tennessee's first two games this fall before the senior from Atlanta limped off the field in the second half of the Vols' 45-24 road win at Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Davis, who missed most of preseason camp last month with an ankle injury, has hauled in 39 passes for 433 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons at Tennessee. He emerged as a favorite target for five-star freshman quarterback Faizon Brandon early this season, ranking as the Vols' third-leading pass catcher at the time of his injury with three receptions for 43 yards and a pair of scores across early season wins over Furman and Georgia Tech.
Davis' injury delivers a significant blow to Heupel's offense with a Week 4 SEC opener against No. 1 Texas waiting on the other side of this weekend's visit from Kennesaw State.
With Davis sidelined, Tennessee's remaining tight end options are headlined by sophomore DaSaahn Brame and South Alabama transfer Trent Thomas. Junior Cole Harrison (one career reception) and freshman Luca Wolf, a class of 2026 signee originally from Vienna, Austria, fill out the program's depth at the position.
Brame was ESPN's No. 194 overall recruit in the 2025 class. He caught six passes for 63 yards as a freshman a year ago and has played more snaps -- 32 -- than any other Vols tight end this fall, per ESPN Research. Thomas, a fourth-year transfer who joined Tennessee via the portal this offseason, logged two receptions for 13 yards in the program's Week 1 victory against Furman.
"This game requires the next guy up," Vols coach Josh Heupel said of Tennessee's tight end situation Monday. "You have heard me talk about that. Our team has heard that, too. You have to be prepared for when your opportunity arises. The next guy, multiple guys have to step up in that role.
"I hate it for Ethan," Heupel continued. "The work he has put into it, the growth of the person and the player, that his season is cut short. The next guy has to be prepared and take advantage of the opportunity. You have seen a lot of those guys play already this year. They have to continue to grow and step into that role."
The Vols (2-0) wrap up nonconference play Saturday against Kennesaw State (7:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network) before hosting Arch Manning and the top-ranked Longhorns at Neyland Stadium in Week 4.