Report: Cedric Tillman Recovering From ‘Tightrope’ Ankle Surgery

Based on a report from ESPN’s Chris Low, Tennessee star wideout Cedric Tillman is presently recovering from ‘tightrope’ ankle surgical procedure. 

Tillman had the surgical procedure early final week in hopes to recuperate as quickly as attainable, per the report. The Las Vegas, Nevada, native injured his ankle in opposition to Akron on an eight-yard catch on 1st-and-10 within the early second quarter. 

Tennessee has already handled some ramifications of Tillman’s harm, because the All-SEC huge receiver missed the Vols’ matchup in opposition to Florida final weekend. 

Nevertheless, Tennessee’s passing assault was unfazed, as Hendon Hooker lit up the Gators for 349 yards by way of the air together with a pair of landing tosses. 

As talked about in Low’s report, former Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa had the surgical procedure twice throughout his collegiate profession and returned in 4 weeks within the 2018 season and three weeks in 2019.

There isn’t any particular timetable for Tillman’s return, however contemplating Tagovailoa returned in three weeks from the identical surgical procedure, there’s an opportunity Tillman might be able to go for the Alabama recreation. If Tillman have been to play in opposition to LSU, that may put his return a few days beneath three weeks for the reason that process. 

Regardless, primarily based off of the historical past of Tagovailoa’s returns, Tillman needs to be able to go by homecoming when Tennessee hosts UT Martin in Week 8. The date of the sport would mark about four-and-a-half weeks faraway from surgical procedure. 

Tennessee head coach Josh Heupel met with native Knoxville media on Wednesday and didn’t share any specifics on Tillman’s harm, claiming he and his workers have been “hopeful” Tillman might play in opposition to LSU. 

“Clearly, we’re a good distance away from recreation time,” Heupel mentioned on the matter. “We’re hopeful that he’ll proceed to make progress and be accessible after we go down there (to LSU).” 

Whereas the Vols’ passing recreation appeared to not miss a beat with out Tillman on the sidelines Saturday, shedding a game-changing participant undoubtedly hurts Tennessee’s ceiling on offense. 

Tillman presently has 246 yards receiving on 17 catches and one landing. 

After their bye week this weekend, Tennessee will return to the sphere subsequent Saturday after they journey to LSU to tackle the Tigers at 11:00 a.m. CT/12:00 p.m. ET.