Notes

TENNESSEE

QB’s status uncertain

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee faces an uncertain quarterback situation as it heads into Saturday’s game at No. 9 Missouri.

Justin Worley was injured and ineffective last week in a 45-10 loss to top-ranked Alabama, which leaves the junior’s status as Tennessee’s starting quarterback in question. Tennessee Coach Butch Jones said Monday that Worley was day-to-day after hurting his right thumb against Alabama.

Even if Worley is cleared to play, Jones could take his time in determining his starter against Missouri. Freshman Joshua Dobbs showed flashes of potential against Alabama after replacing Worley in the second half.

Jones said the competition also could include redshirt freshman Nathan Peterman and freshman Riley Ferguson. Peterman had surgery on an injured right hand last month, but he recently had his cast removed.

UTEP QB Showers out

EL PASO, Texas - UTEP quarterback Jameill Showers won’t play in his anticipated return to Texas A&M after injuring his right shoulder in a loss to Rice.

Showers lost a battle for the Texas A&M starting job the preseason before Johnny Manziel became the first freshman to win the Heisman Trophy in 2012.

The BCS No. 12 Aggies (6-2) and Miners (1-6) play a nonconference game Saturday night, and Showers said before the season he was looking forward to going back to College Station.

Showers, who will make the trip, backed up Manziel last season before transferring to UTEP.

Miners Coach Sean Kugler said Monday he didn’t think Showers would play again this season after separating his throwing shoulder when he was sacked in the second quarter of a 45-7 loss to the Owls.

MICHIGAN

Tight end suspended

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - No. 21 Michigan will be without tight end A.J. Williams against No. 22 Michigan State.

Wolverines Coach Brady Hoke announced Monday the sophomore has been suspended for one game for an unspecified violation of team rules.

Hoke said in a statement that it’s disappointing when a player makes a poor decision and added that Williams realizes he has let a lot of people down.

Williams is from Cincinnati and started the last four games. The 6-6, 265-pound Williams hasn’t caught a pass in his two-year career but is used as a blocking tight end.

Michigan plays the Spartans on Saturday in East Lansing.

ILLINOIS

Shoulder sidelines WR

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Illinois Coach Tim Beckman said starting wide receiver Ryan Lankford will miss the rest of the season because of a shoulder injury.

Beckman said Monday the senior broke a bone in a shoulder in Saturday’s loss to Michigan State. The coach said after the game he suspected Lankford’s injury would be season-ending.

Lankford has 15 catches for 308 yards and 1 touchdown. His total yardage is second on the team behind running back Josh Ferguson’s 361 yards.

Lankford finishes his career at Illinois with 70 catches for 1,014 yards and 7 touchdowns.