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Hendon Hooker reveals his reaction to Cedric Tillman injury in Week 3

275133747_4796292347117549_592518599057046758_nby:Jonathan Wagner•09/19/22•

Jonathan Wagner

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Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images.

The Tennessee Volunteers cruised to a 63-6 victory over Akron on Saturday in Week 3, but the Vols did see a couple of key pieces leave the game due to injury. Wide receiver Cedric Tillman was one of them, as was running back Jabari Small. Both left in the first half and did not return. After the game, quarterback Hendon Hooker explained his reaction to Tillman’s injury.

Tillman had two receptions for 16 yards in the game before departing. Hooker was glad to see Tillman walk off on his own, and he could have been held out for precautionary reasons due to the lopsided score in the game.

“I was just hoping that he was OK,” Hooker said. “Seeing him walk off under his own power is a great sign. He’s a little banged up, but he’s a fighter and a warrior. So even if he’s banged up, he’s still going to do what he does and try to push through it.”

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Tillman is undoubtedly one of Hooker’s favorite targets on offense, as he ranks second on the team this season with 17 receptions and 246 yards. He also has one touchdown so far. Through three games, Hooker has completed 69.4% of his passes for 844 yards, six touchdowns and no interceptions. He also has 63 yards and two scores on the ground.

Hooker on Tillman’s importance to the offense

Tillman wasn’t the only one of Hooker’s weapons on offense that left Saturday’s game. Running back Jabari Small left the game in the first half as well. When asked about Tillman’s importance on offense, Hooker made sure to point out that each and every piece of the unit is vital to the Vols’ success.

“Every piece of the offense is extremely important, from Cedric to Cooper Mays to Jabari Small,” said Hooker. “Every piece is needed. We need every player on this team to win ball games.”

After the game ended, Josh Heupel provided an injury update on Tillman and Small. He admitted that the large deficit on the scoreboard played into the decision to hold them both out for the rest of the game.

“Ced, don’t know yet at this point, but we’re hopeful. Jabari, same thing,” Heupel said in his postgame press conference. “We held them from that point on in the football game just because of the scoreboard and [to] get those guys some treatment.”