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Josh Heupel says Cedric Tillman is 'doing good'

Alex Weberby:Alex Weber10/10/22
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Mark Alberti/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The biggest Tennessee football game in quite some time looms large this week as the No. 6 Volunteers welcome No. 3 Alabama to Knoxville. One crucial storyline to monitor on the Vols side is the health of star wide receiver Cedric Tillman. He recently underwent surgery to speed up the recovery process for an ankle injury he suffered a few weeks back in order to try and be ready for the game vs. the Crimson Tide.

According to his head coach, Josh Heupel, the surgery went well and Tillman is on the mend, eying the chance to play Saturday. In an update on Monday, Heupel expressed optimism for Tillman’s recovery, but stressed that the medical team will not rush him back onto the field for Saturday if he’s not good to go.

Here was Heupel’s full update on the Cedric Tillman situation:

“Cedric’s doing good. You know, this is part of the reason why he had the surgery is to try to be back for this one. Just continuing to progress over the weekend. And so, we’ll monitor him. At the end of the day, our medical team and Cedric will make the right decision for him now and in the future, too.”

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So no concrete decision on Tillman yet. Hopes to play, but that possibility is far from certain as he continues his recovery.

The fifth-year senior had a long road to success in the orange and white. He withstood coaching changes, numerous QB changes, often several per season, but finally broke out last year with over 1,000 yards receiving.

He opted to come back for a final year and was off to a hot start this season, amassing 17 catches and 246 yards in the three games he appeared in before getting hurt. Luckily, one of the weeks he was injured was the bye week. Then, the Vols didn’t seem to have any issue with LSU despite not having him.

Now, Tennessee is hopeful to get the great playmaker back in action for their biggest game of the regular season.