Tennessee’s first injury update for Auburn brings a mixed picture, but the biggest takeaway is what’s missing as much as what’s on it.
The Vols listed starting offensive lineman Shamurad Umarov as questionable Wednesday night, along with defensive lineman Nathan Robinson. Running back Javin Gordon is doubtful. Tennessee also ruled out freshman LEO Kedric Golston II and six others, including fifth-year starting offensive lineman Wendell Moe Jr., who will miss the rest of the season after suffering a lower-body injury against Texas.
What stands out most in the opening SEC availability report is the absence of starting quarterback Faizon Brandon and starting nickel Qua Moss. Brandon left the Texas game favoring his throwing shoulder before coming back in and finishing it, while Moss was shaken up in the fourth quarter and did not return. Neither was available for postgame media because they were receiving treatment, but neither showed up on Wednesday’s report.
Tennessee will release two more availability reports before kickoff, with updates coming Thursday and Friday night. The final pregame report arrives 90 minutes before Saturday’s 3:30 kickoff on ESPN, when the No.
17 Vols host Auburn at Neyland Stadium. The Tigers are coached by former Josh Heupel offensive coordinator Alex Golesh.
Moe’s loss is a major one for Tennessee’s front. He was shaken up on the first drive against Texas and is out for the rest of the year, as GoVols247 confirmed earlier Wednesday night. Umarov, who started at right guard before sliding to left guard after Moe went down, was rolled up on the Vols’ frantic final possession.
Moss, the Kansas State transfer, has been Tennessee’s starting nickel and also took one back for a punt return touchdown against Texas. He left after going low to tackle scrambling Texas quarterback Arch Manning in the second half of the 20-17 loss.
Gordon was already a familiar name on the injury list. He had been questionable going into the Texas game because of a knee injury suffered against Georgia Tech, then was ruled out before kickoff and missed his second straight game.
Robinson’s situation has been lingering too. He was listed as questionable before Texas, went through warmups and was a game-time decision, but never played. The ankle injury that kept him out against Texas also sidelined him for the Kennesaw State game.
Golston, the son of former Georgia and NFL defensive tackle Kedric Golston, has appeared in all four games this season and has two tackles. He played 25 defensive snaps in the Furman and Kennesaw State games and logged 39 snaps on kickoff team and punt-return units across the first four games.
The rest of Tennessee’s out list includes Miami transfer cornerback Jadais Richard, who was hurt during the offseason; starting safety Edrees Farooq and sophomore linebacker Jaedon Harmon, both injured in preseason camp; wide receiver Joakim Dodson, who went down on a kickoff return against Furman; and starting tight end Ethan Davis, who suffered an ACL injury against Georgia Tech.
Backup safety Dylan Lewis is also out.
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