NASHVILLE, Tenn. – DeAndre Hopkins was a limited participant in practice for the second day in a row as the Titans prepare for their Sunday opener at Chicago. Thursday the Titans receiver told me just what he’s been recovering from since he last practiced on July 31st:
“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.”
He did not have surgery on his left knee. I asked if it’s something that could turn into something that needs surgery,
“I don’t like speaking like that, I’m going to let you speak that,” he said laughing.
Hopkins suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear of his right knee playing for the Cardinals against the Rams on Dec. 13, 2021 and missed their final six games including a playoff game. He said he had surgery on that injury.
Hopkins led the Titans with 75 catches 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns last season. They added Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to go with him.
If Hopkins’ knee worsens and requires surgery, he could miss two to three months.
Type Tolbert on DeAndre Hopkins’ return to practice this week. “I’ve got to protect him from himself.” #Titans pic.twitter.com/UIqarKNAKr
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) September 5, 2024
That would call Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine into more action.
Hopkins sounds optimistic about playing against the Bears.
"Right now the way I feel, hopefully I can get out there Sunday and perform," he said.
With Hopkins in the fray, the Titans head into the season with a receiving core that has the most receptions (1,908), yards (24,654) and touchdowns (156) of any group in the NFL.
“Let’s try to keep it a secret, we don’t want to tell too many people what we know we can do,” he said. “Just like everybody’s been sleeping on us, let them keep sleeping.”