Tennessee will be without the services at least one linebacker when it takes on Texas A&M this weekend, but the Volunteers might get another one back for the huge SEC clash.

Jalen Reeves-Maybin, who has been battling a shoulder injury over the last few weeks, will not play, coach Butch Jones said during a Wednesday news conference. Darrin Kirkland Jr., however, is practicing in hopes to play for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against Virginia Tech on Sept. 10.

Reeves-Maybin has 20 tackles and two tackles for loss despite missing all of last week’s Georgia game and most of Tennessee’s win against Florida on Sept. 24. Kirkland, a sophomore, piled up 16 tackles and a sack before his injury.

Kirkland’s return would help shore up a defense tasked with stopping the SEC’s most potent offense. We’ll see if he’s back in the mix when the No. 9 Volunteers (5-0, 2-0) travel to face the No. 8 Aggies (5-0, 3-0) at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS.