Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt announced Friday that Volunteers LB Daniel Bituli will be out for a bit after having a procedure on his knee.

Pruitt told reporters that Bituli had a minor procedure to relieve some pain in his knee. Pruitt noted that the procedure sidelines Bituli for 10-17 days, but the second-year coach said there is a chance the senior linebacker plays in UT’s season-opener against Georgia State on Aug. 31.

“We’ve done a little procedure on him, just kind of cleaned his knee up a little bit,” Pruitt told reporters. “He’ll be out anywhere probably between 10 and 17 days. We’ve done it early part of this week just to kind of alleviate some pain there.

“He possibly will be ready by next week.”

Bituli is Tennessee’s active career leader in tackles with 178 stops over 33 career games from 2016-18. He led Tennessee in tackles the last two seasons, becoming only the 11th Volunteer in history to accomplish that feat. Pro Football Focus named Bituli to its defensive team of the week three times in 2018.