Tennessee basketball fans can breathe a sigh of relief as X-rays on forward J.P. Estrella's left foot came back clean.
Coach Rick Barnes shared the update following the Vols' commanding 89-66 victory over Oklahoma. Estrella was sidelined due to foot soreness, a precautionary move by the team.
"Chad Newman, our trainer, gave me the green light on the X-rays, but J.P. is still feeling some discomfort," Barnes explained. "He knows his body best, so we're taking it day by day. We planned to rest him tonight."
Estrella's status remains day-to-day as the team closely monitors his condition. The soreness stems from the same foot that sidelined him nearly all of last season, following a stress fracture surgery in December 2024.
"It's definitely a concern," Barnes admitted. "Foot issues are tricky, but the surgery itself seems fine. It's just about managing the soreness now."
This isn't Estrella's first time out this season. He missed two previous games: one against Tennessee State due to a knee injury and another at Syracuse because of a right ankle issue.
"I know he wants to be out there," Barnes said. "He probably played through some pain without telling us, trying to push through for the team. But he needs to be careful with that foot."
Despite these setbacks, Estrella has been a key contributor, averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game, shooting an impressive 62% from the field. In SEC play, he's putting up 8.8 points and 5.3 rebounds on average.
Looking ahead, Tennessee gears up for a road matchup against No. 19 Vanderbilt this Saturday at 2 p.m.
ET on ESPN. This game marks the start of back-to-back road challenges, with Missouri next on the schedule.
The Vols will return home on Feb. 28 to host Alabama, a team they previously defeated in a close contest in January.