Josh Heupel updates 'unique injury' situation for Tennessee freshman David Sanders

Josh Heupel said Monday that freshman David Sanders Jr. offensive tackle wants to play, but when he returns to the field is solely up to Tennessee Football’s medical staff while the freshman offensive tackle deals with “a unique injury.”

It’s “a unique injury, you know, doctors are uncertain,” Heupel said during his press conference on Monday. “That’s why he’s kind of been day to day for a while here and (it has been) uncertain.”

“Our medical staff always handles (injury decisions),” Heupel added later, “ … it always goes through our medical staff and they handle those decisions.” 

Sanders, listed as Tennessee’s starting right tackle on Tennessee’s depth chart, has missed the first three games of the season after suffering an upper body injury late in practice on August 27.

Up Next: No. 15 Tennessee vs. UAB, Saturday, 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network

Heupel described a timeline that is still unclear moving forward.

“It’s not like a sprained ankle,” Heupel said. “And I say that, meaning there’s not a definitive timeline, and so he’s been having to fight through that. Guy wants to be out there. It hurts him badly. Our football team, guys in his position room can see that, but he’s been a good teammate too. 

“And I think as a young guy staying the course through something that’s a little bit unknown is hard. He’s done a good job with it. Just going to continue to do that and hopefully our doctors can clear him relatively quickly.”

Tennessee (2-1) hosts UAB (2-1) on Saturday (12:45 p.m. Eastern Time, SEC Network) at Neyland Stadium. The Vols go to Mississippi State in two weeks in their first true road game of the season.

“He’s not, say, in control of it,” Heupel said, continuing to expand on the Sanders injury. “Our medical staff is doing everything that they can. It’s a little bit of an unknown timeframe. He could wake up tomorrow and be ready to go. Obviously he’s had some time, some healing. We hope that happens before we get to Saturday.”

Sanders, the former five-star prospect a five-star prospect and a top-10 recruit in the 2025 recruiting class, was ranked No. 9 overall, was the No. 2 offensive tackle and was the No. 1 player in the state of North Carolina, out of Providence Day School in Charlotte.

Multiple injuries have hurt Vols on defense

Injuries have hurt Tennessee on defense at multiple positions.

Rickey Gibson III and Jaxson Moi both suffered upper-body injuries in the 45-26 season-opening win over Syracuse at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Defensive lineman Daevin Hobbs suffered a lower-body injury late in training camp.

Cornerback Jermod McCoy continues to be sidelined while returning from the torn ACL he suffered while training in January.

“(McCoy has) gotten started back out on the field,” Heupel said on Monday. “(it’s) how his body responds and also being ready to go play and compete are all things that he’s got to continue to prepare for. He wants to be out there.

“He’s been a great teammate. He’s done a really good job in his rehab, too, and so has our medical team. So it’s all about how we can get him prepared to actually go out there and play.” 

Moi was questionable on injury reports before the Georgia game last week, before ultimately being ruled out pregame Saturday afternoon. Heupel said two weeks ago that Gibson would miss “extended” time with what has been reported as an arm injury.

“Moi (is) day to day,” Heupel said. “Hobbs continues to do a really good job in his rehab. So how fast that progresses here, I can’t give you an answer today. But he’s done a really good job. Hopefully, we’ll have him back soon too.”