Vols' Coker out at least three weeks with knee injury

Updated: October 22, 2006, 6:45 PM ET

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Associated Press

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- Tennessee running back LaMarcus Coker will miss at least three weeks with a knee injury, coach Phillip Fulmer said Sunday.

Coker, who started the last three games for the No. 8 Volunteers, was hurt Saturday during a kickoff return in the fourth quarter against Alabama. He was helped off the field and did not put weight on his left leg.

"It's not as bad as we were concerned it might have been after the ball game. I still think you're looking at three to six weeks," Fulmer said.

When asked if Coker sprained his knee, Fulmer said privacy laws prevented him from saying what kind of injury Coker has. Coker had an MRI after the game.

Coker is the third tailback to start this season. He earned more playing time when Arian Foster sprained his ankle and missed two games.

Coker redshirted last season and had surgery on his shoulder in the offseason. Montario Hardesty also ended up as a redshirt last year because of a knee injury. All three played against Alabama.

Coker had five rushes for 12 yards and returned four kickoffs for 66 yards against Alabama. Tennessee won 16-13.

The Vols' next three games are at South Carolina, against LSU and at Arkansas, and they finish the season at Vanderbilt and hosting Kentucky.

Coker made a splash this season with a 48-yard touchdown reception on a trick play against Florida and an 89-yard touchdown run against Marshall, the longest rushing play in school history.