The Tennessee Titans are prepped and ready to go Week 1 when they take on the Chicago Bears. One lingering question as the game inches closer, however, is if star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will be on the field when the Titans debut in 2024.
Hopkins, of course, is a key piece of the Titans offense and Will Levis will need all the help he can get as he is set to make his 2024 debut. This is a big year for Levis as he tries to prove that he's the answer at quarterback for Tennessee, so having Hopkins out there is obviously going to help him immensely.
Hopkins joined the Titans last offseason after spending three years in Arizona with the Cardinals. Before that, he donned the Houston Texans blue and red uniforms for seven years and the Titans were thrilled to have him at their disposal in 2023. He finished the year with 1,057 receiving yards and seven touchdowns.
Unfortunately, coming into this game, Hopkins was questionable with a knee injury. Considering how much of a contact sport football is, knee injuries can be risky to play on so will we see Hopkins suit up against the Bears for Week 1?
DeAndre Hopkins will play for the Titans vs. Bears
The good news is that it appears that Hopkins "is set to play" in Week 1. Jeremy Fowler did note that "how much he plays is uncertain and could come down to pain management". Fowler also mentioned that Hopkins had discussed with reporters earlier in the week "that he's fighting through an MCL tear".
#Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (questionable, knee) is set to play Sunday at Chicago, per source, though how much he plays is uncertain and could come down to pain management.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) September 7, 2024
Hopkins revealed to reporters this week that he’s fighting through an MCL tear.
The Titans have to tread carefully here. While it'd be great to have Hopkins at Levis' disposal for Week 1, it's a long season and if they can prevent him sustaining further injury here, that's the goal. It's not like the Titans don't have any other weapons either.
No, they don't have Derrick Henry in the run game anymore but they signed Tony Pollard in free agency to help their rushing attack thrive. Tyjae Spears is still in the backfield as well. The Titans are stacked at wide receiver without Hopkins, as they brought in Tyler Boyd and Calvin Ridley this offseason and still have Treylon Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine.
It'd be great to see Hopkins on the field this week but the important thing is that he remains healthy because the Titans are going to need him down the stretch, especially in a competitive AFC South.