Josh Heupel updates the injury status of Tennessee running back DeSean Bishop

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said during his weekly press conference on Monday that running back DeSean Bishop should be available for Saturday night’s game at Alabama.

“Feel like DeSean will be ready to go in this one,” Heupel said.

No. 11 Tennessee (5-1, 2-1 SEC) goes to No. 6 Alabama (6-1, 3-0) on Saturday night for a 7:30 Eastern Time start on ABC at Bryant-Denny Stadium in Tuscaloosa. 

Bishop appeared to injure his right leg after a 26-yard run in the third quarter of Tennessee’s 34-31 win over Arkansas Saturday at Neyland Stadium. He had 14 carries for 146 yards and a touchdown before leaving the game.

“I don’t think it’s a long-term deal at all,” Heupel said during his postgame press conference Saturday night.

Bishop was examined by trainers before leaving the field under his own power without a noticeable limp, but did not return to the game. He’s Tennessee’s leading rusher this season with 481 yards and six touchdowns on 63 carries.

Star Thomas has 62 attempts for 328 yards and four touchdowns. Sophomore Peyton Lewis has 43 rushes for 200 yards and five touchdowns, including two he scored against Arkansas after Bishop left the game.

“We trust all those guys,” Heupel said on Monday. “Peyton had a great game the other night, finished it off in (the) four-minute (drives) really, really good way. Couple goal-line situations. Star has played really well throughout the course of the year, and the young guys are ready to go play too.”

Up Next: Tennessee at Alabama, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC

Lewis scored on a 2-yard touchdown run after Bishop left the Arkansas game, then added a 2-yard touchdown run later in the third quarter. Lewis finished with eight carries for 33 yards.

Wide receiver Braylon Staley also left the game with an injury in the second half, but again Heupel was not concerned after the game. Staley led the Vols with six catches on eight targets for 109 yards, with a long of 42.

“Braylon, he was celebrating, having fun in the locker room,” Heupel said, “so I anticipate he can be ready to go.”

QB Joey Aguilar left game briefly late in fourth quarter

Quarterback Joey Aguilar missed one play on Tennessee’s final drive against Arkansas, after a 28-yard run. He landed on the football while being tackled and said after the game that the wind was knocked out of him. 

“I feel good right now,” Aguilar said during his postgame press conference. “But yeah, that ball was deep in my stomach. That took the air out of me for sure.”

Aguilar completed 16 of 25 passes for 221 yards and one touchdown and ran five times for a season-high 59 yards. Backup quarterback Jake Merklinger replaced Aguilar.

“Wanted him to get down once the play is over,” Heupel said Saturday night. “Just knocked the wind out of himself. So in that way it’s positive, but I would like him to not take that hit at the very end.”