Josh Heupel Provides Encouraging Health Update For Tennessee Football Tight End

Tennessee football tight end DaSaahn Brame is trending toward a return for this weekend’s road matchup against Texas A&M, providing a sigh of relief for a Volunteers offense currently managing a thinning depth chart.

Head coach Josh Heupel shared the update on Monday during his appearance on The Mike Keith Show, noting that the sophomore is progressing well after exiting Saturday’s 34-6 win over Kentucky.

Brame left the field during the Kentucky game after a hard collision in the end zone that resulted in a controversial incomplete pass ruling.

While the tight end appeared to sustain a concussion following the impact, Heupel expressed optimism regarding his availability for Saturday’s 3 p.m. ET kickoff in College Station. “DaSaahn is doing good,” Heupel said on The Mike Keith Show. “We feel like he’ll be in a great spot for game day.”

The status of the tight end position has become a focal point for Tennessee, as the team is already playing without Ethan Davis, who is out for the season. Brame, who has recorded 15 receptions for 184 yards this year, has taken on a significantly larger share of the workload alongside Trent Thomas.

The increased reliance on Brame stems from his development as a blocker, a skill set that has become vital for the Vols’ ground game as the season enters its final stretch.

The Mike Keith Show

In that sequence, Brame appeared to catch the ball in the end zone, only for the pass to be ruled incomplete because he did not maintain possession through the ground.

Rocky Top Insider reported that while no formal public review was announced during the broadcast, Heupel confirmed that officials in the booth reviewed the catch and upheld the ruling that the player did not maintain control through the process of the ground.

Heupel said that the team typically receives a full report on such officiating decisions by the middle of the week. “At the end of the day, he didn’t come down with the football,” Heupel told The Mike Keith Show. “Didn’t maintain control of it when he was on the ground. So that was the ruling that they gave me.”

The Volunteers now turn their attention to a high-stakes road environment at Texas A&M. With Brame’s status currently listed as a point of interest, the team’s upcoming availability report—scheduled for release on Wednesday night—will provide the final word on the roster.

Should Brame be unable to go, freshman Luca Wolf, who saw an uptick in snaps following Brame’s exit on Saturday, remains the next option in the rotation.

The impact of these personnel decisions extends beyond the box score, as Tennessee looks to maintain its offensive rhythm in SEC play. The outcome of the Wednesday availability report will clarify whether the team will be at full strength for the trip to College Station, an environment that historically tests the depth and discipline of visiting squads. The game will be broadcast on ESPN.