Colton Hood not listed on Tennessee's Wednesday night injury report

Tennessee Football did not add defensive back Colton Hood to the SEC Injury Report Wednesday night, with only Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson and freshman receiver Travis Smith listed as out. Linebacker Arion Carter for No. 14 Tennessee (6-2, 3-2 SEC) against No. 17 Oklahoma (6-2, 2-2) on Saturday night (7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC) at Neyland Stadium.

It was reported Wednesday afternoon that Hood is dealing with a calf issue after Hood missed time in the 56-34 win at Kentucky Saturday night. When asked about Hood’s status during his weekly press conference on Monday, Tennessee coach Josh Heupel deferred to the injury report instead of providing his own update or further information.

“Stay tuned to the injury report,” Heupel said.

The injury report will be updated again on Thursday and Friday, then one final time 90 minutes before Saturday night’s kickoff.

Tennessee Football Injury Report

Player	Position	Wednesday
Jermod McCoy	CB	Out
Rickey Gibson III	CB	Out
Travis Smith	WR	Out
Arion Carter	LB	Questionable

Tennessee LB Arion Carter dealing with turf toe injuries

Carter, who did not play at Kentucky, was listed as questionable on Wednesday as he continues to deal with a turf toe injury. Freshman receiver Travis Smith was also ruled out for the Oklahoma game after missing the last three games for the Vols.

Linebacker Ben Bolton also missed the Kentucky game while freshman receiver Radarious Jackson and redshirt sophomore tight end Ethan Davis returned from injury against the Wildcats.

McCoy has yet to make his return from the torn ACL he suffered while training in January. Gibson has been out since suffering an upper-body injury against in the season-opening win over Syracuse.

Carter, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound junior, not only leads Tennessee with 61 tackles despite missing the Kentucky game. He has 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, a forced fumble and fumble recovery and two passes broken up. Bolton, a 6-foot-3, 233-pound redshirt junior walk-on, has eight tackles in seven games as a reserve linebacker for the Vols. 

Updating the status of Tennessee CB Jermod McCoy

On3’s Pete Nakos on Wednesday reported that McCoy has returned to practice in pads and is continuing to work toward a return this season, barring any setbacks.

Tennessee has a bye week after facing Oklahoma Saturday night and is back home to host New Mexico State on November 15, before going to Florida on November 22 and playing Vanderbilt at home on November 29 in the regular-season finale.

“If (McCoy) can take a step forward in practice on the bye,” Nakos reported, “he could make a return for the final three games of the season.”

Heupel last updated the uncertain timeline for McCoy before the Arkansas game three weeks ago, with Tennessee’s star cornerback nine months removed from the ACL tear. 

“Jermod continues to do a great job in his rehab with our medical staff, our strength staff,” Heupel said on October 7. “… He’s done a really good job. He’s got more to go.”