After a productive debut in Tennessee, DeAndre Hopkins appears set to see his preparation for his second season finish early. The previous All-Professional extensive receiver is predicted to overlook a number of weeks with a knee harm.
Hopkins sustained a strained knee throughout follow this week, according to veteran Titans reporter Paul Kuharsky, who signifies a four- to six-week absence is on faucet. Week 1 will happen throughout this timeline, making Hopkins’ restoration one to observe. ESPN.com’s Turron Davenport confirms the Titans are optimistic about Hopkins avoiding any missed video games.
Though the Titans added Calvin Ridley on a big-ticket deal and signed former Brian Callahan Bengals cost Tyler Boyd, they’re nonetheless relying on Hopkins to play a key position. The late-2010s first-team All-Professional staple produced his seventh 1,000-yard season with the Titans in 2023, persevering with to make a stable Corridor of Fame case. If this harm timetable is correct, the achieved wideout has a change to re-emerge simply earlier than Week 1.
This isn’t the primary time Hopkins has run into knee bother. An MCL tear knocked him out for an prolonged stretch throughout the Cardinals’ 2021 playoff season; Hopkins missed seven video games that yr and was unavailable for Arizona’s wild-card contest. He then missed the final two Cardinals games in 2022 as a result of a knee flareup.
Arizona, which employed a brand new regime headed by ex-Tennessee exec Monti Ossenfort quickly after, launched Hopkins months later. The previous Texans star did rebound in his Titans debut, however his current historical past of knee points is instantly related once more. That mentioned, Davenport adds this can be a left knee harm; Hopkins sustained the MCL tear to his proper knee. Hopkins continued to follow with a wrap on his left knee Wednesday, per Davenport, nevertheless it seems the Titans didn’t like what they noticed and are shutting him down.
Because the Titans’ high wideout final season, Hopkins bounced again by taking part in in all 17 video games and totaling 1,057 yards — his first 1,000-yard yr since 2020. Working as a key a part of Will Levis‘ growth, Hopkins caught seven landing passes. The Titans paid up so as to add assist by way of Ridley, and Boyd performed beneath Callahan for 5 of his eight Bengals seasons. The Titans even have 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks, who seems poised to see some run with the primary unit whereas Hopkins recovers. This might characterize a key alternative for Burks, who has underwhelmed since Jon Robinson selected him minutes after the A.J. Brown commerce.
The Titans have Hopkins on a two-year, $26M deal; they outbid the Patriots and Chiefs for the veteran — after a much-discussed free company derby — final summer time. He earned a $4.1M roster bonus by remaining a Titan on Day 5 of the 2024 league yr.
Tennessee’s new teaching workers is closely invested in Ridley, however Hopkins stays a key a part of the franchise’s Levis growth. Hopkins spoke earlier this month on an interest in signing a second Titans contract, expressing his satisfaction since becoming a member of the group. His subsequent step can be to return by the point the Titans are making ready to face the Bears in September.