Barion Brown wanted to go back in the game after a hospital visit

Kentucky entered Saturday with a lengthy injury report, missing several starters for the Wildcats’ game against the Vols. Early into that game, star wide receiver Barion Brown joined the list of players unable to participate. Brown suffered his injury on a short reception that he turned into a 16-yard gain to get Kentucky’s back off its own goalline. However, he was shaken up on the tackle and needed to be helped to the sideline with an apparent rib injury.

Minutes later, the SEC Network reported that Brown had gone to a nearby hospital to get checked out. Mark Stoops confirmed Brown’s hospital trip in his postgame press conference, adding that Brown returned to the sideline with intentions of checking back into the game.

“He had to go get checked out. He went to the hospital and came back, and he wanted to go back in, but he was not cleared to go back in,” Stoops said in his postgame press conference, leaving Brown’s status uncertain moving forward.

One sign of hope: Brown was spotted celebrating with Ja’Mori Maclin after Maclin’s fourth-quarter touchdown.

.@GavinWimsatt ➡️ @routerunner9 🤌 pic.twitter.com/4OvFIbVp0x

— Kentucky Football (@UKFootball) November 3, 2024

“We’re pretty beat up right now”

Brock Vandagriff also joined the injury report during the loss to Tennessee, suffering a head injury on a sack in the second half. Stoops estimated to Tom Leach that 10 or 11 starters were out as Kentucky tried to finish out the game.

“We’re really in some tough situations right now, personnel-wise,” Stoops said. “I really greatly appreciate our players and how they prepared, you know, down on numbers, nobody to sub with them, and things of that nature, in practice. Obviously, we’re trying to bring along some young guys, but they really came into a tough situation and fought hard. And that part of it, I’m very, very proud of them.”