DeAndre Hopkins is still one of the top wide receivers in the National Football League, but will not be on the field to begin the regular season. He is looking to be the number-one option with the Tennessee Titans now that running back Derrick Henry left as a free agent but the injury Hopkins suffered at the end of July was significant to say the least.
While speaking to Paul Kuharsky of paulkuharsky.com, DeAndre Hopkins revealed that he suffered an MCL tear but is hoping to avoid surgery and could be on the field for Week 1.
“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. Obviously, it’s pain at that point.” h/t Pro Football Talk
This is not the first time that DeAndre Hopkins has suffered this type of injury. Back in 2021, he suffered a Grade 3 MCL tear in his right knee. This injury forced him to miss the final six games of the year for the Arizona Cardinals, including their postseason game.
Will DeAndre Hopkins be able to play Week 1?
While it seems crazy, there is a chance that DeAndre Hopkins is on the field for Week 1. Hopkins is saying as much publicly as he wants to be on the field against the Chicago Bears on Sunday afternoon. While it all depends on his health, if he is able to move around on the field without pain, expect to see him in the starting lineup.
Who will play if DeAndre Hopkins is not able to play?
The Tennessee Titans were able to step up during free agency and be aggressive with adding wide receivers. If Hopkins is not able to be on the field, they have added both Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd to their 53-man roster. If DeAndre Hopkins is not in the starting lineup, expect either Nick Westbrook-Ikhine or Treylon Burks to get the start.
About the Author
Vincent Pensabene graduated from Saint Leo University in 2019 with a B.A. in Sport Business and has focused on the media side of sports. He writes for multiple publications and is interested in the reasoning of why things happen. Feel free to follow him on social media @TalkVinTalk and discuss all things sports.
