Tennessee Titans’ star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a knee strain injury, as first reported by Paul Kuharsky. Hopkins suffered the injury either during Wednesday’s practice or on Thursday morning.
It’s a tough blow, given the timing of the injury. In the best-case scenario, Hopkins returns to the mix a week before the Titans open the season against the Chicago Bears. If he is out for the full six weeks, he would be looking at two regular-season games missed and returning for Week 3 at home against the Green Bay Packers.
With Hopkins sidelined, the Titans will look for others to step up. The 32-year-old enjoyed a tremendous first year in Nashville in 2023, hauling in 75 catches for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns. It was the eighth time that Hopkins reeled in at least 75 catches in a season and the seventh time he eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark.
Third-year wideout Treylon Burks will almost certainly benefit from a move up in the depth charts. The Arkansas product was penciled in as the Titans’ fourth wide receiver entering this season, behind Calvin Ridley, Tyler Boyd, and Hopkins.
Burks appears ready for the challenge after getting himself into shape prior to training camp. His offseason work has paid dividends, as he has been a camp standout while drawing rave reviews from his coaches, teammates, and former Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Dez Bryant.
Still, losing a player of Hopkins’ caliber will be felt throughout the organization, but the Titans are more prepared than in previous seasons for the next man to step up.
