Josh Heupel and Tennessee have taken some hits to the depth chart this season.

Not only are the Vols without 2 key wide receivers down the stretch with Bru McCoy and Dont’e Thorton going down with season ending injuries, Tennessee has also taken some blows on the defensive side.

Linebacker Kenan Pili, a transfer from BYU, suffered an injury in Week 1 that has kept him out for the entirety of the season. Freshman linebacker Arion Carter is also out for the rest of the season after a sustaining a shoulder injury against Kentucky. Carter picked up 17 tackles this season before his injury.

But Heupel is hopeful for the group he has at the linebacker position moving forward. He had high praise for the way they’ve been able to manage without two key players.

“I certainly wish we had those two guys with us during this journey this year,” Heupel said during the SEC coaches teleconference on Wednesday. “Two really good football players. Unfortunate with KP and it happening as early in the season as it did. AC’s injury is an old injury that kind of snuck up on him and looking forward to getting AC healthy. But I like the guys that we have inside of that room. They’ve been urgent in their preparation. There’s some things that we have to get better at, but we’re going to need all those guys on Saturday afternoon. This is going to be a really physical football game.”

The Vols’ linebackers and the rest of their defense are looking for a big game on Saturday as Tennessee takes on Georgia. Tennessee’s defense has been good this season, but Saturday will be one of the biggest challenges against the top team in the country.

The Vols are looking for a bounce back game after a crushing loss against Missouri. Beating Georgia would be a key milestone for the Heupel era, so Saturday’s game will be huge.

The game between Tennessee and Georgia kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday.