Report: Tennessee QB Nico Iamaleava in concussion protocol ahead of game against Georgia | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is in a concussion protocol heading into a pivotal game against Georgia on Saturday, according to ESPN’s Piet Thamel.

Iamaleava left the first half of the Vols’ win over Mississippi State on Saturday and did not return for the remainder of the game.

According to Thamel, Iamaleava practiced on Tuesday, but his status for Saturday’s meeting in Athens is undetermined.

Tennessee head coach said Josh Heupel after the match that Iamaleava’s departure from the field in the second half on Saturday was a “precautionary measure” and that he would “be ready next Saturday”.

After Monday’s training, Heupel reiterated that Iamaleava could be ready to go on Saturday.

“He was with us today and had a very good day,” Heupel told 247Sports’ Patrick Brown. “I have a feeling he’ll be in top form on Saturday, but you guys can keep an eye on the report coming out on Wednesday and follow it all week. But you definitely feel like he’ll be in a good place.”

Tennessee will release SEC-mandated availability reports on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, which will provide more insight into Iamaleava’s status as the matchup approaches.

Iamaleava, the No. 3 nationally ranked player in the class of 2023 by 247Sports compositehas 1,879 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions through nine games. The redshirt freshman has also picked up 215 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

Last week in the first half against Mississippi State, he threw for 174 yards and two touchdowns on 8-of-13 passing.

Backup quarterback Gaston Moore replaced Iamaleava in the second half and completed five of his eight passes for 38 passing yards. If Iamaleava is unable to play against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Moore would likely start in his place.

The No. 7 Vols’ game with No. 3 Georgia on Saturday has a lot of implications for the College Football Playoff and the SEC Championship. Should Tennessee leave Athens with a win, it would likely clinch a CFP spot as long as the Vols take care of business against UTEP and Vanderbilt to end the year.

Tennessee could also move one step closer to securing a trip to the SEC Championship with the win, as it currently sits in the driver’s seat at 5-1 in the conference.

Winning the high-stakes game would be significantly more difficult without Iamaleava on the field.