Daevin Hobbs injury update: Josh Heupel teases potential return for injured defensive tackle

Rumors swirled at Tennessee early this week that a key player could be returning from injury for a game against Arkansas. That’s defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs, who has yet to play this year due to a foot injury suffered in fall camp.

Coach Josh Heupel stopped short of confirming that Hobbs would be back, though he issued a teaser of sorts for the team’s official injury report due out later tonight. Hobbs might see a status change there.

If so, it would be a big boost to the Tennessee defensive front. Daevin Hobbs can play.

“Daevin had a great offseason and was playing extremely well during the course of training camp,” Heupel said Wednesday on an SEC teleconference call. “Unfortunate, those things happen in this game.”

As for whether Daevin Hobbs will return this week, Heupel was coy. Hobbs is a former five-star recruit who played in all 13 games a year ago, tallying 20 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss and a sack from his defensive tackle position.

“He’s done a great job in the rehab process,” Heupel said. “I think our medical report, first one of the week, comes out tonight, so stay tuned.”

Daevin Hobbs, Jermod McCoy status updated

In addition to the potential news about Daevin Hobs returning, On3 also provided an early week update on cornerback Jermod McCoy. Unfortunately for the Volunteers, the news isn’t as positive.

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said Monday that All-America cornerback Jermod McCoy “continues to do a great job in his rehab” but did not offer up a timeline for his return. Sources tell On3’s Chris Low and Pete Nakos that McCoy is unlikely to play against Arkansas.

On3 previously reported that this week’s Arkansas game was a target date for a possible return. But McCoy has not gone through a full practice and has not taken any contact yet, as Volquest’s Brent Hubbs previously reported.

McCoy continues to go through rehab as he tracks to making the next step in his recovery process.

“He’s got more to go,” Heupel said on Monday. “I think it’s all about him being prepared to go play. There are a lot of things that go into that. You look at the position he plays, all the reactionary work that you have to have in so you’re always balancing his ability to be prepared and short-term, long-term health as well.”