Mark Stoops provides injury update on Eli Cox, shares where Kentucky needs to improve

Not only did Kentucky come away from Saturday’s game against Tennessee with a loss, but it also left a bit banged up. So it wasn’t a great night for the Wildcats.

On Monday, Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops met with the media to further discuss the defeat and also provide updates on his team. And he provided information on an injury that is likely to substantially impact the Wildcats moving forward.

Stoops shared the following on redshirt sophomore offensive guard Eli Cox, who was hurt during the loss to the Vols:

Eli Cox will "more than likely" be out for the season, Mark Stoops says.

— Josh Moore (@JoshMooreHL) November 8, 2021

That means Kentucky has lost its starting right guard and will need to find a way to fill that hole up front. The Wildcats plan to start Austin Dotson in that spot, with Quintin Wilson and Jager Burton available to help fill in, per Stoops.

Stoops also reflected on Saturday’s 45-42 loss, identifying one particular area where the team needs to improve:

Mark Stoops says there were 10 plays against Tennessee that gave up an "obscene amount of yards." Way too many explosives, he adds. You know when you're playing a team like the Vols that they're going to hit a few, but you can't give up 10. Has to be addressed moving forward.

— Jeff Drummond (@JDrumUK) November 8, 2021

The Wildcats gave up big plays early. The Vols took a quick lead on Hendon Hooker’s 75-yard touchdown pass to JaVonta Payton only 11 seconds into the game. Hooker also threw a 72-yard TD pass to Velus Jones Jr. later in the first quarter.

Kentucky will look to bounce back and snap its 3-game losing streak when it goes on the road to face Vanderbilt on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN2.