Tennessee LB Arion Carter remains questionable on Thursday SEC Injury Report

No. 14 Tennessee on Thursday night again listed linebacker Arion Carter as questionable on the SEC Injury Report for Saturday night’s game against Oklahoma. The Vols (6-2, 3-2 SEC) and the Sooners (6-2, 2-2) on Saturday night are scheduled for a 7:30 Eastern Time start on ABC at Neyland Stadium.

Defensive back Colton Hood was not listed on the first injury report of the week on Wednesday night and again was not listed on Thursday. Jermod McCoy, Rickey Gibson and freshman receiver Travis Smith listed as out and Carter was the only player listed as questionable.

It was reported Wednesday afternoon that Hood is dealing with a calf issue after he missed time in the 56-34 win at Kentucky Saturday night. The injury report will be updated again Friday night, then one final time 90 minutes before Saturday night’s kickoff.

Tennessee Football Injury Report

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

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. 

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.”