Skip to main content
Tennessee

Josh Heupel updates the status of Joey Aguilar for Tennessee's game at Kentucky

IMG_3593by: Grant Ramey22 hours agoGrantRamey
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee coach Josh Heupel talks with Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) during a college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.
Brianna Paciorka/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images | Tennessee coach Josh Heupel talks with Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar (6) during a college football game between Tennessee and Alabama at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Oct. 18, 2025.

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said Monday that Tennessee quarterback Joey Aguilar will be ready to go when the Vols face Kentucky Saturday night at Kroger Field in Lexington. Aguilar appeared to suffer a neck injury in the 37-20 loss at Alabama.

“Obviously a couple hits that Joey took,” Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday. “But he’ll be ready to go for Saturday.”

No. 17 Tennessee (5-2, 2-2 SEC) and Kentucky (2-4, 0-4) are scheduled for a 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time start on SEC Network.

Joey Aguilar didn’t miss any snaps in loss at Alabama

Aguilar ran left on second-and-4 at the Alabama 4-yard line early in the second quarter. He was tackled by Alabama’s James Smith and Justin Jefferson, with both defenders making contact with his helmet and forcing his neck back awkwardly. 

He didn’t miss any time during the game, but received medical attention on the back of his neck, including time spent in the injury tent with his shoulder pads removed while trainers worked on his neck and back. 

Aguilar finished the game 28 of 44 passing for 268 yards, with a touchdown and interception. After being sacked only three times over the first six games of the season, he was sacked four times at Alabama for a combined loss of 20 yards. 

He threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Staley on the play after suffering the neck injury. Later an Alabama defender landed on the same area of his neck after Aguilar ran and slid to give himself up. 

Aguilar’s interception was returned 99 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, after Zabien Brown stepped in front of an out route and a pass intended for Miles Kitselman.

Joey Aguilar has run 34 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns this season

Tennessee trailed 16-7 at the time, but was out of timeouts on the 1-yard line with nine seconds left before halftime. Instead of potentially trailing 16-14 at the break, the Vols went to the break down 23-7.

Aguilar has ran 34 times for 97 yards and two touchdowns.

He had a season-high 371 yards and four touchdowns in the 44-41 overtime loss to Georgia on September 13. He had 12 touchdowns over his first four games with the Vols.

Aguilar has ran 23 times over the last four games, for a combined 71 yards, after running 11 times for 26 yards over the first three games of the season.