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Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop removed from Friday SEC Injury Report

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey10/18/25GrantRamey
STARKVILLE, MS - September 27, 2025 - Running back DeSean Bishop #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers after the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics
STARKVILLE, MS - September 27, 2025 - Running back DeSean Bishop #18 of the Tennessee Volunteers after the game between the Mississippi State Bulldogs and the Tennessee Volunteers at Davis Wade Stadium in Starkville, MS. Photo By Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

Running back DeSean Bishop has been removed from Tennessee’s SEC Injury Report Friday night, as the No. 11 Tennessee prepares to play at No. 6 Alabama (5-1, 3-0) Saturday night (7:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ABC) at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa.

Bishop appeared to injure his right leg in the 34-31 win over Arkansas Saturday in Knoxville. He was slow to get up after a 26-yard run in the third quarter, leaving the game with 146 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries. He left the field under his own power and didn’t have a noticeable limp while returning to the Tennessee bench.

Tight end Ethan Davis has been downgraded to out.

Cornerback Jermod McCoy was ruled out Wednesday night. He has been out since tearing his ACL in January. Rickey Gibson III has been out since getting hurt in Week 1 against Syracuse, Radarious Jackson has missed the last three games and Travis Smith was out last week after being added to the injury report late in the week.

Tennessee Football Injury Report: Friday

PlayerPositionWednesdayThursdayFriday
Jermod McCoyCBOutOutOut
Radarious JacksonWROutOutOut
Rickey Gibson IIICBOutOutOut
Travis SmithWROutOutOut
Ethan DavisTEQuestionableQuestionableOut
Tennessee Football Availability Report vs. Alabama

Josh Heupel: ‘Feel like DeSean will be ready to go’

Josh Heupel said after the game Saturday night that he wasn’t concerned with the status of Bishop — “I don’t think it’s a long-term deal at all,” he said during his postgame press conference —  then updated the situation again on during his weekly press conference on Monday.

“Feel like DeSean will be ready to go in this one,” Heupel said of the Alabama game.

Bishop is Tennessee’s leading rusher this season with 481 yards and six touchdowns on 63 carries. Star Thomas has 62 attempts for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Peyton Lewis has 43 rushes for 200 yards and five touchdowns, including two he scored against Arkansas after Bishop left the game.

What Josh Heupel said this week about Jermod McCoy

Heupel updated the uncertain timeline for Jermod McCoy early last week, nine months removed from his ACL tear.

“Jermod continues to do a great job in his rehab with our medical staff, our strength staff,” Heupel said on October 7. “Somebody told me there was a report out there of a certain ball game that he’s focused in on as far as returning.

“I think that’s unfair. Whoever put that out there, I don’t think truly understands Jermod and the situation. He’s done a really good job. He’s got more to go.”