UPDATE: Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins ($5,700) is officially active Sunday vs. the Bears after being listed as questionable on the team’s Friday injury report.
Given Hopkins has been dealing with an MCL tear, there is a real chance the veteran is limited in this season opener. This would likely lead to more usage for Calvin Ridley ($5,800) and Tyler Boyd ($4,500). – Alex Hunter
SEPTEMBER 6TH: After being labeled as questionable leading up to the Week 1 matchup, Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins will play against the Bears according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.
While it is positive news that Hopkins is set to be on the field, there still is no guarantee he will be up to his usual work rate. It was revealed this week that it is an MCL tear that the five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver is dealing with. Hopkins recently spoke to reporters saying that he is used to playing through pain and knows the rest of the NFL is as well.
MCL injuries vary in terms of severity and the timeline of recovery. Hopkins dealt with a Grade 3 MCL sprain during the 2021 season when he was with the Cardinals which forced him to miss the final six games of the season- including the first-round playoff loss.
It is good news that this current injury is not as severe and he will be a part of the Titans’ offensive attack from the opening week, but this injury should not be completely forgotten about just yet. –Sean Barnard
September 6th: Titans HC Brian Callahan stated to the media on Friday that WR DeAndre Hopkins ($5,700) is officially going to be listed as questionable for their Week 1 game against the Bears in Chicago. Hopkins was a limited participant in practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week with a knee injury. Hopkins told reporters Thursday that he tore the medial collateral ligament in his knee but it doesn’t require surgery.
Hopkins is hoping to be able to suit up for the Titans’ first game of the season as he believes this injury will not require him to miss any time this season. On July 31, Hopkins first injured his left knee and was originally supposed to miss four to six weeks. Hopkins was Tennessee’s leading WR in 2023, when he caught 75 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. That was his best season since he had over 1,400 yards in his first year with the Arizona Cardinals in 2020. Hopkins played in all 17 games a season ago which is the most he has played since that same 2020 campaign.
If Hopkins is unable to play on Sunday, WR Calvin Ridley ($5,800) will benefit the most. Ridley joined the Titans this offseason on a four-year, $92 million deal. Ridley caught 76 balls for 1,016 yards and eight touchdowns for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2023. A fresh start for Ridley will be good, as he has shown potential to be an elite WR in the NFL in the past.
The Titans are currently 3.5-point underdogs against the Bears on DraftKings Sportsbook. The over/under for the game is 44.5 points, while Tennessee is +150 to win the game on the moneyline. The over/under in receiving yards is set for 46.5 for Hopkins.
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