Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava is in concussion protocol ahead of a critical game against Georgia on Saturday, according to ESPN. Pete Thamel.

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

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

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel said after the match, leaving Iamaleava off the field in the second half on Saturday was a “precautionary measure” and that he would be “ready to roll next Saturday.”

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

“He was with us today, he had a really good day,” Heupel said, according to 247Sports. Patrick Brown. “I feel like he’ll be in great shape on Saturday, but you can watch the report that comes out on Wednesday and follow him through the week. But I definitely feel like he’ll be in good shape. position.”

Tennessee will release SEC-mandated availability reports Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, which will provide more information on Iamaleava’s status as the game gets closer.

Iamaleava, the No. 3 player nationally in the class of 2023 by 247Sports Compositeshas 1,879 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and four interceptions in nine games. The redshirt freshman also had 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 eight passes for 38 passing yards. If Iamaleava couldn’t play against the Bulldogs on Saturday, Moore would likely start in his place.

The No. 7 Vols’ matchup with No. 3 Georgia on Saturday comes with plenty of College Football Playoff and SEC Championship implications. If Tennessee leaves 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 close out the year.

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

Winning this high-stakes match would be much more difficult without Iamaleava on the court.