Tennessee updates Nico Iamaleava's status on Wednesday injury report

Nico Iamaleava was listed as questionable on Tennessee Football’s injury report Wednesday night. Iamaleava has reportedly been in concussion protocol this week after he was ruled out at halftime of Saturday night’s 33-14 win over Mississippi State with concussion-like symptoms.

“Nico has had a good start to the week and we will continue to monitor him as we get closer to game day, just like we do with all of our guys,” Josh Heupel said Wednesday night on Vol Calls. “Stay tuned to the availability report and we will see where we’re at at the end of the week.”

No. 6 Tennessee (8-1, 5-1 SEC) goes to No. 11 Georgia (7-2, 5-2) for Saturday night’s 7:30 Eastern Time kickoff on ABC at Sanford Stadium in Athens.

Iamaleava, wide receiver Dont’e Thornton and right guard Andrej Karic all left the Mississippi State game with injuries. Dylan Sampson missed one series to start the second half after leaving late in the second quarter with what appeared to be a left leg injury.

Tennessee Football Injury Report: Wednesday

Player	Position	Status
Keenan Pili	LB	Out
Jourdan Thomas	DB	Out
Edwin Spillman	LB	Out
Desean Bishop	RB	Out
Nico Iamaleava	QB	Questionable
Vysen Lang	OL	Questionable
Dont’e Thornton	WR	Questionable

What Josh Heupel said about Nico Iamaleava this week

Heupel has been optimistic since his postgame press conference Saturday night that Iamaleava would be ready to play at Georgia.

“Feel like we’ll be ready to roll Saturday,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference, adding that Iamaleava being removed from the game was a precautionary measure.

“He was with us today,” Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday. “Had a really good day. Feel like he’ll be in in great shape for Saturday. But you guys can monitor the whatever the report is that comes out on Wednesday and track it through the week. But certainly feel like he’ll be in a good spot.”

“Nico has been good here in the early part of the week,” Heupel added on Wednesday on the SEC Coaches Teleconference.

SEC Injury Reports

The SEC in August announced “availability reports” for football, basketball and baseball.

“This availability reporting policy is intended to reduce pressure from outside entities seeking participation information,” said SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey, “and represents a commitment of our 16 institutions to provide enhanced transparency to support efforts to protect our student-athletes and the integrity of competition.”

Players will be listed as available, probable, questionable, doubtful or out for their next game. On game day the updates will include available, game-time decision or out. 

Schools of who fail to provide accurate and timely availability reports will be subject to penalties from $25,000, for first-time offenders, to $100,000 for “third and further” offenses in football. Men’s basketball, women’s basketball and baseball fines will be between $15,000 and $25,000.