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Will Faizon Brandon play today vs Arkansas? Injury update for Tennessee football

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Tennessee football quarterback Faizon Brandon is dealing with an injury ahead of the Vols’ game at Arkansas.

The 14th-ranked Vols (4-1, 1-1 SEC) play Arkansas (2-3, 0-2) on Oct. 10 (4:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network) at Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium in Fayetteville.

Brandon, who was replaced by backup George MacIntyre during the second quarter of the Vols’ 24-14 win over Auburn on Oct. 3, was listed as questionable for the Arkansas game on the availability reports for Oct. 7-9. But UT coach Josh Heupel has offered little clarity on his quarterback situation this week.

Knox News and other media outlets, citing sources, reported on Oct. 6 that MacIntyre would get first career start against Arkansas. Heupel addressed the quarterback situation during the SEC coaches teleconference on Oct. 5 but declined to confirm who would start.

“I’m not going to go into great detail on our plan for our quarterbacks this Saturday as we head to Arkansas,” Heupel said. “Faizon was dealing, still dealing, with some injury things. We’re working through that here this week, at the beginning part of the week.”

Tennessee coach Josh Heupel walks on the field before a game between Tennessee and Auburn in Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2026.

(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)

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Tennessee coach Josh Heupel walks on the field before a game between Tennessee and Auburn in Knoxville, Tenn., Oct. 3, 2026.

(Caitie McMekin/News Sentinel)

Faizon Brandon injury update

Brandon suffered an apparent right shoulder injury in the second quarter of UT’s 20-17 loss to No. 1 Texas on Sept. 26, and missed a handful of plays while receiving treatment. MacIntyre took over for one drive before Brandon returned and finished the game.

Brandon wasn’t listed on any of the Vols availability reports leading up to the Auburn game on Oct. 3. In that game Brandon struggled. He completed three of eight passes for zero yards and threw an interception deep inside Tennessee territory before being subbed out for MacIntyre.

It’s not clear whether or not Heupel turned to MacIntyre because of Brandon’s health, his performance or some combination of the two factors.

Heupel told the ESPN broadcast at halftime vs. Auburn that Brandon “wasn’t feeling 100%,” but then downplayed the extent of his injury in the postgame press conference.

“I don’t know that I would say that,” Heupel said postgame when asked if Brandon’s health affected his performance. “We’ll watch a little bit of the tape and see more of it. But we’ll go from there.”

Tennessee QB depth chart

  • Faizon Brandon

  • George MacIntyre

  • Ryan Staub

Brandon is the five-star freshman who was named the Vols’ starting quarterback on Aug. 24. He’s completed 61 of 101 passes (60.4%) for 697 yards and seven touchdowns to one interception in five games played this season. Brandon adds an element in the run game with 130 net rushing yards and three scores.

MacIntyre, a sophomore and four-star recruit from Brentwood Academy, was efficient in relief of Brandon vs. Auburn and helped guide the Vols to a win by completing eight of 10 passes for 86 yards. He still hasn’t started a game as a college quarterback.

Staub transferred to UT from Colorado for his senior season. He’s played seven snaps for the Vols, all in the season opener vs. Furman on Sept. 5 and completed three passes for 27 yards.

Stephen Thompson covers Tennessee Volunteers men’s basketball. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X @stephenethom.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Will Faizon Brandon play today vs Arkansas? Injury update for Tennessee football

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