Tennessee power forward JP Estrella continues to be a partial participant in Vol basketball’s practice as he deals with left foot soreness. Estrella was a partial participant in Tennessee’s Monday afternoon practice open to the media. The sophomore big man did more team-work then he did on Friday but still spent a portion of practice on a stationary bike not practicing.
Estrella has missed Tennessee’s last two games with the left foot soreness. The Vols listed him as a game-time decision on Saturday afternoon at Vanderbilt but he did not end up dressing out.
“I know he’s doing everything in his power to get back as fast as he can,” Tennessee assistant coach Amorrow Morgan said Monday. “I know he’s getting treatment right now two or three times a day. Like, he wants to be back. And we know that. We need the Moose— is what we call him. Like, he has such strong legs. We need him back. He’s such a dominant force on the offensive glass, and he adds another layer of depth and just another layer of skill. But I know he’s doing everything he can, so hopefully he’ll be back. If not, he’s just going to keep working until that time comes.”
Estrella missed just two games with foot injury this season. He was coming off a 16-point, nine-rebound performance against LSU. The foot injury was particularly concerning because Estrella missed nearly the entire 2024-25 season after undergoing foot surgery. However, all x-rays have come back negative.
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“Feet problems are hard to get right,” Tennessee head coach Rick Barnes said. “But based on where the screw was placed and all that — and again I probably shouldn’t be talking about it because Chad knows it. But I don’t think that is a problem where the surgery itself (happened). It’s just some soreness set in and we just have to get it quieting down.”
Estrella was a partial participant in Tennessee’s Friday practice open to the media. He received treatment early during practice but did some five-on-five work as practice progressed.
The 6-foot-11 forward is averaging 9.7 points and 5.2 rebounds per game this season. His role has seriously increased over the last month after Rick Barnes inserted him into the starting lineup against Alabama. Estrella has steadily improved with the bigger role and is averaging 11.7 points and seven rebounds in the seven games since moving into the starting lineup.
If Estrella is unable to go against Missouri, both Vanderbilt transfer power forward Jaylen Carey and freshman power forward DeWayne Brown could play a significant role.
Tipoff between Tennessee and Missouri is at 9 p.m. ET at Mizzou Arena on Tuesday night in Columbia. The SEC Network is broadcasting the game.
