WRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather & SportsDooley: No "quick fix" for Bray upon return to practice

KNOXVILLE (UT Sports) -- Tennessee sophomore quarterback Tyler Bray returned to practice Tuesday morning at Haslam Field after recovering from a broken thumb suffered against Georgia on Oct. 8.

But it wasn't the same Bray that recorded 1,579 passing yards and 14 touchdowns through the first five weeks of the season.

"He worked his way back," head coach Derek Dooley said. "He didn't take all the reps. He's not even close to what he was before he got injured, not even close. I would still say the same thing I said in the press conference, which is questionable."

Regardless of whether Bray can play Saturday against Vanderbilt or not, his effectiveness also remains questionable.

"He has a broken thumb, so you can't grip the ball and throw it the way you do when you don't have a broken thumb," Dooley said. "It's going to take some time. It's like everything around here. We want immediate fixes. His thumb is not fixed. You don't just put magic serum on it and he can go throw like he did five weeks ago. It will come. I don't know if it will be this week. I know he won't be as good as he was this week. I know that for a fact, if he plays at all. We'll see."

Bray's return, at the very least, has given the Vols an extra boost of energy in practice.

"We're excited to get him back out there," senior tailback Tauren Poole said. "I just hope he can do it in a game. That's all we want is to see him produce in the game. It's definitely a different pace in games than in practice. He had a smile on his face, he seemed happy. We're excited about him. We need him. Hopefully he can play, and hopefully he can play well."

While Bray still has to get readjust to gripping and throwing the ball, his command hasn't been altered.

"It's always good to have a player like that come back," sophomore center Alex Bullard said. "He looked pretty good throwing the ball but he just has to get back into it because he has been gone for several weeks now. He was confident and took charge. It was like having him the way we did at the beginning of the season. Of course he might be a little rusty, but he is a competitor. Once he gets back into it he will be fine."

For Bray, it's more about one ‘P' word than another.

"I don't think it's about protection," Dooley said. "I think it's more about production. Do I think he can move us down the field and score touchdowns? If I don't, he's not going to play. If I do, then we'll give it a shot. If he's struggling out there, then we'll pull him out.

"He's been cleared by the doctors. It doesn't mean there's not a risk .There's always a risk. The issue is can you execute the pass plays? Can you deliver the ball better than the other two guys we have?"