Vernell Brown III injury update: Florida WR's status vs. Tennessee revealed on Wednesday availability report

The initial injury report for a Week 13 SEC matchup between Florida and Tennessee was released Wednesday evening. A number of players on both sides entered with questions about their status this week after missing their team’s previous game.

That includes Gators receiver Vernell Brown III, who sat out a 34-24 loss against Ole Miss last week due to an AC sprain. It was the second game he missed this season after also sitting out against Georgia in Week 10.

Brown is officially listed as questionable on the availability report. You can view the full status for players on both teams below.

Florida Gators (3-7, 2-5 SEC)

• OL Austin Barber – PROBABLE
• DL Michai Boireau – OUT
• WR Vernell Brown III – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Micheal Caraway Jr. – OUT
• DB Aaron Gates – OUT
• EDGE George Gumbs Jr. – OUT
• RB Ja’Kobi Jackson – OUT
• ILB Ty Jackson – OUT
• DB Dijon Johnson – OUT
• QB Tramell Jones Jr. – OUT
• OL Roderick Kearney – OUT
• TE Tony Livingston – PROBABLE
• EDGE LJ McCray – OUT
• DB Bryce Thornton – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Javion Toombs – OUT
• WR Dallas Wilson – OUT
• WR Eugene Wilson III – OUT

No. 20 Tennessee Volunteers (7-3, 3-3)

• WR Joakim Dodson – OUT
• DB Rickey Gibson III – OUT
• TE Miles Kitselman – OUT
• RB Peyton Lewis – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Jermod McCoy – OUT
• OL Wendell Moe Jr. – QUESTIONABLE
• DB Sidney Walton – OUT

A true freshman, Brown is Florida’s leading receiver this season with 33 catches for 473 yards, though he has still yet to score a touchdown. He’s also served as the team’s primary kick and punt returner. The Gators are already down two of their other key receivers after season-ending injuries to Dallas Wilson and Eugene Wilson III.

Interim coach Billy Gonzales told reporters that he was hopeful Brown would play. However, he added that ultimately the team wanted to do what was best for his health.

“Try to go again this week,” Gonzales said. “One of the things as a receiver coach, you want to make sure if a receiver can’t lift his hands up consistently, go get the ball. Then you just got to make sure that you’re taking care of him, trying to get healthy for the next game. Same thing, same plan for him is to continue to try to get out there. Every player is different. Their body’s response. And players can get back a little quicker. But every individual player knows their body, and when he’s healthy, he’ll come back.”

Since this is an SEC matchup, Florida and Tennessee will both release injury reports throughout the week. In addition to Wednesday’s availability report, there will also be reports released on Thursday and Friday, then one final report that comes out 90 minutes before kickoff. All availability reports can be found on the SEC’s website.

Tennessee is looking to finish strong this season in its remaining conference games, while Florida coming in hoping to snap a three-game losing streak. That in mind, injuries on both sides will be worth monitoring throughout the week. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on Saturday in Gainesville.