Double Blow for Josh Heupel as Tennessee Concern Now Spirals Into Major Liability

Josh Heupel’s offense hummed in a 45-26 Week 1 rout of Syracuse, piling up 493 total yards while Joey Aguilar tossed three touchdowns and the defense added five sacks and two takeaways. Yet the victory’s afterglow was dimmed by a collision late in the second quarter that sent starting cornerback Rickey Gibson III to the locker room after just 19 snaps.

Head coach Josh Heupel confirmed the worst on Monday, noting, “BREAKING: Rickey Gibson III will be out for an extended period, according to HC Josh Heupel”, after trainers diagnosed a right-arm injury that occurred when Gibson and safety William Wright tangled on a contested fade near the Vols’ sideline. Gibson, a preseason All-SEC pick coming off 32 tackles and five pass breakups in 2024, had opened the game as Tennessee’s primary boundary corner but watched the second half with his arm in a sling.

BREAKING: Rickey Gibson III will be out for an extended period, according to HC Josh Heupel. pic.twitter.com/Biekbtk4cQ

— Vol Report (@AllVolReport) September 1, 2025

The setback arrives with fellow starter Jermod McCoy still rehabbing an ACL tear, leaving a suddenly thin secondary to lean on true freshman Ty Redmond and Colorado transfer Colton Hood. Aguilar’s downfield fireworks can cover some defensive gaps, but back-to-back matchups with pass-happy South Carolina and Florida loom; without two top corners, Tim Banks’ unit may have to trade punch-for-punch far more often than Heupel prefers.

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