Josh Heupel updates status of three key players in Monday press conference

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Published Oct 10, 2022

Josh Heupel updates status of three key players in Monday press conference

Noah Taylor • VolReport

Managing Editor

@ByNoahTaylor

With No. 6 Tennessee's biggest game of the season looming, head coach Josh Heupel gave an update on the status of three key contributors for the Vols on Monday.

Tennessee (5-0, 2-0 SEC) hosts No. 3 Alabama (6-0, 3-0 SEC) on Saturday at Neyland Stadium for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff on CBS. The Vols, though hindered by injuries, are unbeaten and off to their best start since 2016.

Tennessee has been without All-SEC wide receiver Cedric Tillman since late in the first half of a 63-6 win over Akron on Sept. 17. Starting offensive lineman Gerald Mincey also missed the Vols' rout 40-13 rout of LSU last Saturday.

The defense, which already lost cornerback Warren Burrell to a season-ending injury, is in limbo again following the arrest of safety Jaylen McCollough for assault on Sunday.

It was reported last week that Tillman underwent "tightrope" surgery on his left ankle in order to speed up his recovery. While Heupel said he was "hopeful" for Tillman's return even before the LSU game, it's a decision that will ultimately come down to the team's medical staff.

"Cedric is doing good," Heupel said. "Part of the reason he had the surgery was to try and be back for (the Alabama game). He's continuing to progress over the weekend, so we'll monitor him. At the end of the day, our medical team – like I said last week, our medical team and Cedric will make the right decision for him now and in the future, too."

As for Mincey, Heupel didn't divulge too much information as to why the left tackle didn't play at LSU other than to say he was "unavailable," but he does expect Mincey to be available against Alabama.

McCollough's status is the most unclear at this point. He was arrested for a felony assault charge according to the Knox County Sheriff's Department, but Heupel didn't have an update on what that meant for his standing with the team or immediate availability as of Monday afternoon.

"As they gather information, we'll have a conversation based on the facts of it and go from there," Heupel said.

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