What happened: Tennessee ruled out rookie wide receiver Carnell Tate due to a shoulder injury after he missed practice throughout the week. Running back Tyjae Spears and punter Tommy Townsend were also sidelined with knee injuries ahead of Sunday's matchup with Cincinnati.

Why it matters: Townsend's absence forces newly signed veteran Thomas Morstead directly into punting duties. Head coach Robert Saleh noted the challenge of deploying rookie Carnell Tate without practice repetitions as Tennessee reorganizes its offense.

What to watch: Tennessee will monitor the readiness of questionable starters Calvin Ridley and John Franklin-Myers before finalizing the active roster for kickoff.