KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee starting quarterback Erik Ainge will have surgery next week on his right knee to repair or remove torn cartilage, team officials announced Wednesday.<br>
<br>
Ainge is out for spring practice, which began Feb. 22 and ends March 31.<br>
<br>
The doctors will determine how to correct the problem once they begin surgery. Their choices are to remove his meniscus or repair it. Removal would mean a shorter recovery time of four to six weeks while recovery from repair would take between eight to 12 weeks but be ``better for his long-term mobility,'' officials said.<br>
<br>
The surgery is scheduled for Monday.<br>
<br>
``I'm just glad we are able to take care of it,'' coach Phillip Fulmer said in a news release. ``It's another advantage of starting spring as early as we started it because it gives us plenty of recovery time.''<br>
<br>
Ainge, who will be a senior this fall, set the school's single-season record for completion percentage last season at 67 percent, going 233-of-348 with nine interceptions for 2,989 yards and 19 touchdowns. He started all but one game last season because of a sprained ankle.<br>
<br>
The damage in his knee was discovered last week in an MRI. Ainge said that then his knee had been bothering him for a while and he couldn't pinpoint when the injury happened.<br>
<br>
Ainge should be recovered before fall drills begin in August or sooner.
