Vols WR Nu'Keese Richardson missing from practice

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Freshman wide receiver Nu'Keese Richardson did not attend Tennessee's brief Sunday night practice.

Volunteers coach Lane Kiffin offered no specific explanation for the absence.

"We're dealing with an issue with Nu'Keese," Kiffin said, promising more information on Tuesday.

Attempts to contact the Pahokee, Fla., native and his family Sunday night weren't immediately successful.

Several Vols (4-4, 2-3 Southeastern Conference) stayed on the sideline during practice for health reasons, but Kiffin didn't rule any of them out for Saturday's game against Memphis.

Junior starting middle linebacker Savion Frazier was helped off the field late in Tennessee's 31-13 win over South Carolina on Saturday night with a knee injury, but Kiffin said Sunday's diagnosis was better than initially feared.

"It just seemed bad coming off the field," said Kiffin, who said there was a chance Frazier could play against Memphis.

Defensive linemen Gerald Williams, a junior, and Marlon Walls, a freshman, were held from practice with ankle injuries, and junior defensive end Chris Walker missed another day because of a sore lower back. Junior linebacker LaMarcus Thompson sat out after leaving the South Carolina game with a stinger.

"This is why everybody needs to be working hard," said linebackers coach Lance Thompson, whose group has suffered a rash of long-term injuries. "We practice (reserves) like they're one play away. Unfortunately for us, that's happened three times with linebackers."

Redshirt freshman Herman Lathers, Frazier's primary backup in the middle, said Sunday night that he has dealt with a blood problem the past two years. He didn't disclose the name of the condition Tennessee's staff but said he undergoes several tests weekly before getting cleared to play.

"I think it's a long term thing, with how I'm dealing with it," Lathers said. "As far as the training room goes, they say the only situation (to fix it) is removing my spleen — which I really don't want to have happen — so I guess it's going to be long term.

"I never know when I'm going to play, but I'm always up and ready and prepared for it. I just stay ready and stay focused, and I play when they let me play."

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