Josh Heupel: Tennessee corner Rickey Gibson III out 'for extended time' with injury
Josh Heupel’s injury update for cornerback Rickey Gibson III wasn’t the one Tennessee Football wanted on Monday afternoon. The junior cornerback will be out for an “extended” period of time after suffering an injury in the 45-26 win over Syracuse Saturday in Atlanta.
“Rickey will be out for an extended period here,” Heupel said during his weekly press conference. “How long, I don’t have the exact time table but he’ll be out for an extended time.”
Heupel also noted that defensive tackle Jaxson Moi will also be out this week, as Tennessee hosts ETSU in the home opener on Saturday (3:30 p.m. Eastern Time, ESPN+/SEC Network+).
Injuries marred Tennessee’s 45-26 win over Syracuse
The Vols also did not have starting right tackle David Sanders Jr. against Syracuse after he suffered an injury last week in practice. Linebacker Arion Carter also missed time on Saturday due to cramping and defensive lineman Nathan Robinson was banged up in the Week 1 win.
“Jaxson will be out this week,” Heupel said. “Hope to get him back quickly. In this game, you’ve heard me say it, the strength of a position group can’t be one guy. Everybody has to be ready and prepared to play when they get the fall. We have to continue to grow.”
Heupel said after Saturday’s game that he expected Sanders to be back this week.
“Anticipate him being back as we get going next week,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference.
Gibson left the game in the second quarter, replaced by freshman corner Ty Redmond with Colton Hood at the other corner. The Vol Network broadcast reported during the game that Gibson was having his left arm examined by trainers.
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Gibson, a 6-0, 185-pound junior from Alabama, had a career year with the Vols last season, recording 32 tackles — 25 solo, seven assists — and had five passes defended and a forced fumble.
Tennessee ‘leaned on Rickey (Gibson) a lot’ last season
His role became even more important this season, as Preseason All-American Jermod McCoy continues his recovery from the torn ACL he suffered while training in January.
Tennessee secondary coach Willie Martinez said during the preseason that Gibson was Tennessee’s most consistent corner in the second half of last season.
“I know Jermod (McCoy) had an unbelievable year,” Martinez said at the time, “don’t get me wrong. And the plays he made were phenomenal. As the season was going on, (Gibson) was the most consistent, to be honest with you, on the edges … we leaned on Rickey a lot because again, he’s a guy that knows the scheme.”
“Rickey is extremely smart,” Martinez added. “Always has been. I’ll say the skills, he’s a lot better with the ball skills. He’s really been intentional about being more — improving his ball skills to track and locate stuff. You can see it when he’s doing drills.”
