The Tennessee Titans will begin their 2024 season on Sunday against the Chicago Bears and it remains unknown if they will have their best wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, on the field.
Hopkins is working his way back from a knee injury suffered at the end of July. The veteran wideout recently revealed that he’s dealing with an MCL tear that he will try to play through. Hopkins admitted that he will have to play through pain.
This isn’t Hopkins’ first time dealing with an MCL tear. He suffered a Grade 3 tear during the 2021 campaign with the Arizona Cardinals, which required surgery and led to him missing the team’s final six games.
“I had the MCL tear maybe four and a half, five weeks ago so the thing about those is it takes a whole year for them to heal,” he said. “Obviously it’s pain at that point.”
DeAndre Hopkins injury update
Titans head coach Brian Callahan revealed Hopkins will be questionable and a game-time decision, according to AtoZ Sports Nashville. Callahan added that he doesn’t anticipate the team making any roster moves in the event Hopkins sits.
Titans HC Brian Callahan gives updates on DeAndre Hopkins in light of the news his MCL is torn.
DHop will be listed as QUESTIONABLE ahead of Titans-Bears pic.twitter.com/WXc0UWqtRQ
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) September 6, 2024
According to the team’s final injury report, Hopkins was limited at practice once again on Friday and is officially questionable. Based on videos from practice, Hopkins took part in individual drills and sported a sleeve on his left knee.
#Titans’ official inj. report heading into Sunday:
–Awuzie (calf) is new to the report. Missed much of camp with the calf injury. pic.twitter.com/WbHBwnYvEL— John Glennon (@glennonsports) September 6, 2024
A casual one-handed catch by @DeAndreHopkins, who practiced for the second straight day for the @Titans.
🤚🏾 🏈 pic.twitter.com/8OfkRFvYqS— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) September 5, 2024
If Hopkins does indeed sit, 2022 first-round pick Treylon Burks will likely step into his spot, and fellow wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine will probably see more snaps, also.
For our fantasy football people out there, starting either one isn’t advisable, but if we had to choose between one or the other, it would be Burks over NWI.
The Titans and Bears will kick off from Soldier Field on Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
