Tennessee sophomore wide receiver Josh Smith will miss the team’s SEC opener Saturday at No. 12 Georgia, according to head coach Butch Jones. Jones confirmed that Smith– who suffered a high ankle sprain in the Vols’ Sept. 13 loss to Oklahoma– will be inactive during his weekly appearance on 104.5-The Zone in Nashville Thursday.

Smith currently has 135 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches. Against Oklahoma, Smith started in place of Von Pearson (who is also nursing a high ankle sprain) and suffered the injury early in the fourth quarter of the Vols’ 34-10 loss.

The sophomore showed vast improvement during the beginning of his second season, following a debut season riddled with dropped passes and injuries.

Jones said during his weekly press conference Monday that Smith would be questionable for Saturday’s game and further evaluated as the week progressed. He announced during his weekly “Vol Calls” radio program that Pearson will not travel with the team for Saturday’s game.

With Smith and Pearson out of action, freshman receiver Josh Malone is expected to see more targets in an increased role and could possibly make his first career start Saturday. Malone has 63 yards and five catches, while making limited appearances in all of Tennessee’s first three games.