J.P. Estrella Injury Update: tennessee basketball Forward Out vs Oklahoma
Redshirt sophomore J. P. Estrella will not play in Tennessee basketball’s SEC matchup with Oklahoma on Feb. 18 at 7 p. m. ET at Food City Center. The forward is listed day-to-day with left foot soreness, prompting the staff to sit him out as a precaution.
Immediate lineup implications and who could step in
With Estrella ruled out, Tennessee is expected to lean on its frontcourt depth. DeWayne Brown II, who filled in earlier this season while another frontcourt rotation player dealt with a calf issue, figures to be the primary candidate to take a starting minutes boost. The coaching staff has rotated its bigs in recent weeks to manage injuries and preserve matchup flexibility, and Brown’s recent experience in an expanded role makes him the logical interim starter.
Coaches emphasized a cautious approach to the left foot soreness, describing the issue as not serious but worth holding Estrella out to avoid further setback. That conservative stance aligns with how the program managed the player following prior foot problems, prioritizing long-term availability over short-term gain in a season where frontcourt continuity has been fragile.
Estrella’s injury history and durability context
Estrella’s availability has been disrupted repeatedly. He played just three games before undergoing season-ending foot surgery in 2024-25, and that procedure factored into how the staff has managed his workload this season. This upcoming contest will mark his third missed game this year: he sat out Nov. 20 with a bone bruise in his left knee and missed Dec. 2 with a right ankle issue. He also dealt with an ankle injury during the summer.
Those setbacks have limited the coaching staff’s ability to rely on Estrella as a consistent interior presence. When healthy, he brings size and rim protection that help space the defense for perimeter players. The team’s cautious handling of the current soreness suggests they are focused on preserving that impact for the remainder of the conference slate and postseason push rather than risking additional injury in a single midweek game.
Game outlook and broader team impact
The Volunteers enter the matchup with an 18-7 overall mark and an 8-4 record in conference play. Oklahoma comes in at 13-12, 3-9 in league action. Tennessee’s coaching staff will need to balance rotation length and matchups, particularly on the glass and defending the paint, areas where Estrella’s presence can be influential even beyond scoring.
Expect a heavier share of minutes for backup bigs and a potential tweak to defensive assignments to account for Estrella’s absence. The bench will be asked to provide energy and rebounding to reduce wear on the starters. If Brown or another reserve can produce a steady presence inside, the loss may be manageable; if not, the Volunteers could see greater pressure on their perimeter players to compensate.
The team has signaled it will not rush Estrella back. With the season still in full swing and postseason positioning at stake, the priority remains on getting him fully healthy. For now, Tennessee basketball will test its interior depth and the resiliency of its rotation as it hosts Oklahoma on Feb. 18 at 7 p. m. ET.
