Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is with the team as they head to Athens today, according to a report from VolQuest’s Austin Price on Friday afternoon.
Price’s post on X also states that “things track to [Iamaleava] playing tomorrow night against the Bulldogs.”
The Tennessee quarterback has been listed as questionable on the Wednesday and Thursday night editions of the injury report. Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider on Friday night and Saturday evening for the final two injury reports before the marquee game in Sanford Stadium.
JUST IN: @nico_iamaleava8 is on the team bus headed for Georgia as things track to him playing tomorrow night against the Bulldogs. pic.twitter.com/wEfSR8CW6D
— Austin Price (@AustinPriceless) November 15, 2024
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Iamaleava has been Tennessee’s starting quarterback for all nine games this season, averaging just north of 200 passing yards per game. The redshirt freshman quarterback has also racked up 11 passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, and four interceptions on the year.
Iamaleava was putting together one of his best games of the season last weekend against Mississippi State until suffering an injury late in the first half of action. The Tennessee quarterback took to the locker room with his teammates during the halftime break but did not return to the sidelines. Instead, it was backup quarterback Gaston Moore who led Tennessee to the 33-14 victory over Mississippi State.
We now know based on multiple reports that Iamaleava was in concussion protocol and that is why he did not return to the game.
There have been a handful of reports and statements about Iamaleava’s availability this week. Most notably, ESPN’s Pete Thamel reported on Tuesday that Iamaleava was in concussion protocol but did dress and practice with the team that same day.
Josh Heupel has been fairly quiet about Iamaleava’s status and has continually pointed to the injury reports, but the Tennessee head coach did give a fairly optimistic assessment on Monday.
“He was with us today,” Heupel said. “Had a really good day. Feel like he’ll be in in great shape for Saturday. But you guys can monitor the [injury] report that comes out on Wednesday and track it through the week. But certainly feel like he’ll be in a good spot.”
Iamaleava’s status at the time of this publication is still listed as questionable in the eyes of the weekly SEC injury report but Price’s report about traveling with the team and being on “track” for Saturday night is about as good of news as Tennessee fans are looking for shy of an official active status.
No. 12 Georgia will host No. 7 Tennessee on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. ET from Sanford Stadium. The game broadcast will be on ABC.
Stay tuned to Rocky Top Insider on Saturday night for live, on-site coverage of the game from Athens.
