Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge will undergo surgery Monday to repair torn cartilage in the senior’s right knee.

Ainge, who finished second in the SEC last season in pass efficiency and set the Vols’ single-season record for completion percentage, is expected to return by July.

Drs. Greg Mathien and Russell Betcher of Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic will try to repair the meniscus in Ainge’s knee.

That type of surgery typically takes 8-12 weeks for recovery.

However, depending on the location and severity of the tear, doctors could be forced to remove the meniscus completely, which carries a much shorter recovery time of about four to six weeks.

A repair of the meniscus, which helps stabilize the knee and acts as a shock absorber for the joint, would be better for Ainge’s career long term.

Whether the tear can be fully repaired won’t be known until doctors perform the surgery.



"I’m just glad we are able to take care of it," UT coach Phillip Fulmer said a release. "It’s another advantage of starting spring as early as we started it because it gives us plenty of recovery time."

An MRI last week revealed the tear after Ainge experienced pain and swelling in the knee.

Ainge, who is on spring break this week, said the knee had been hurting since the beginning of the spring practice and that there was not a single incident that caused the injury.

Drew Edwards covers University of Tennessee football. He may be reached at 865-342-6274.