Tennessee's Maggitt nearing return

Published Sep. 3, 2013 8:43 p.m. ET

foxsports

Tennessee linebacker Curt Maggitt is getting closer to returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee.

Maggitt worked out in full pads Tuesday and wasn't wearing a green non-contact jersey. Tennessee coach Butch Jones called it a ''significant'' step but added that he wouldn't decide on the junior's availability for Saturday's game with Western Kentucky until seeing ''how he progresses throughout the course of the week.''

Maggitt, a starter each of the last two years, tore his ACL last November in a 51-48 four-overtime loss to Missouri.

Jones said defensive end Jacques Smith will have pins removed from his fractured right thumb Wednesday and ''there is a possibility he may be able to play Saturday.''