Ainge to have surgery next week on knee

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,&#39;&#39; officials said.<br> <br> The surgery is scheduled for Monday.<br> <br> ``I&#39;m just glad we are able to take care of it,&#39;&#39; coach Phillip Fulmer said in a news release. ``It&#39;s another advantage of starting spring as early as we started it because it gives us plenty of recovery time.&#39;&#39;<br> <br> Ainge, who will be a senior this fall, set the school&#39;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&#39;t pinpoint when the injury happened.<br> <br> Ainge should be recovered before fall drills begin in August or sooner.

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