Tennessee football enters the Third Saturday in October with a similar-looking set of names on the injury report.
As part of a mandate by the SEC, each team must release an initial injury report ahead of each conference matchup. With the Vols heading out for a road bout with Alabama at 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, it means both have to submit an injury report.
With this, teams are required to provide a status update on Wednesday before each league game. Each designation will come with a tag: available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out on the reports. On game day, the tags change to available, game-time decision or out.
A report must be submitted on Thursday and Friday, with the final notice coming 90 minutes before kickoff.
Here is how Tennessee looks on the status forefront before its matchup with the Crimson Tide.
Running back DeSean Bishop – Probable
Tennessee’s lead rusher looks to be in good enough shape to avoid missing any significant reps against Alabama this weekend.
The Knoxville native came up clutching his right leg after a dangerous tackle late in the action during the Vols’ meeting with Arkansas, a sequence that eventually resulted in Bishop making his way off the field without any assistance from the training staff. He did not return to the proceedings with the Razorbacks.
Bishop is averaging 7.6 yards per carry on the campaign, accounting for five Tennessee touchdowns. He paces the Vols’ running back trio with 481 yards. Head coach Josh Heupel forecasted confidence surrounding his bellcow during his Monday press conference.
“Feel like DeSean will be ready to go in this one,” Heupel said.
Cornerback Jermod McCoy – OUT
Noise around Jermod McCoy’s return to action simmered down this week after the defensive back missed Tennessee’s matchup with Arkansas.
After Heupel updated McCoy’s rehab status as one that was still progressing a week ago, the Vols will once again be without the anchor of their secondary for one of the toughest road games of the season. The ACL tear that continues to sideline the junior will once again bring about tough assignments for defensive backs coach Willie Martinez’s position room.
“He’s preparing every day to play,” Martinez said on Tuesday. “And he’s on course to whatever that is. He’s engaged every single day in our meetings. There’s nothing really different other than him not playing on game day.”
Linebacker Edwin Spillman – OUT – 1st Half
One of the Vols’ breakout defensive pieces will not be present for the first half against the Crimson Tide after being ejected for targeting in the fourth quarter against the Hogs.
Edwin Spillman laid an illegal hit on Arkansas’ quarterback Taylen Green, a blow in which the 230-pound Nashville product led with the crown of his helmet. Spillman will be eligible to return during the second half at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
In his absence, Jadon Perlotte filled in. A similar role likely awaits the true freshman on one of the biggest stages of his career while Spillman serves his penance.
Full injury report
Tennessee
DB Rickey Gibson III – OUT
WR Travis Smith Jr. – OUT
DB Jermod McCoy – OUT
WR Radarious Jackson – OUT
LB Edwin Spillman – OUT – 1st Half
TE Ethan Davis – Questionable
RB DeSean Bishop – Probable
Alabama
LB Qua Russaw – OUT
LB Jah-Marien Latham – OUT
LB Cayden Jones – OUT
WR Derek Meadows – OUT
DL Jeremiah Beaman – OUT
WR Jaylen Mbakwe – Questionable
RB Jam Miller – Questionable
