Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins (MCL) Set to Play Against Bears

In a significant development for the Tennessee Titans, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is set to play in the season opener against the Chicago Bears this Sunday, according to a reliable source reported by ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Hopkins faced a challenging recovery after suffering a torn MCL on July 31. This injury sidelined him for several weeks. However, he made a comeback at practice last Monday, signaling hopeful progress in his rehabilitation.

This past week, the Titans listed Hopkins as a limited participant during practice sessions held on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Consequently, he was marked as questionable on the team’s injury report.

After participating in practice on Thursday, Hopkins expressed positivity about his return to the field, stating that “it felt great” to be out there again. To expedite his recovery, he had traveled to California before regaining his footing in Nashville the previous week.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan shared his thoughts on Hopkins’ recovery, noting, “To my knowledge, I think everything is healed though, so far, the way it’s supposed to.” He added that he did not anticipate any additional risks of injury beyond what was initially expected.

During practice on Thursday, Hopkins had been seen wearing a sleeve on his left leg, although he opted to practice without any additional support the following day. The Titans were vigilant, closely monitoring him during a team walkthrough on Saturday. They plan to remain attentive during Sunday’s pregame warmups as well.

The Titans will take six wide receivers into the game, including Hopkins, as they have chosen not to elevate any additional wideouts from the practice squad for this matchup. Despite his readiness to play, it’s considered unlikely that Hopkins will participate for the entire duration of the game against Chicago.

Coach Callahan acknowledged the challenges that come with returning from an injury, emphasizing the need for a strategic approach. “Any player that’s coming off an injury or extended missed period of time, you’re smart,” he said. “To ask a guy to go in there and play an entire game, every snap is a tough ask. You try to at least have some sort of plan in place to rotate him enough.”

This cautious approach reflects the coaching staff’s commitment to safeguarding Hopkins’ health while still utilizing his talents on the field. As both the Titans and Hopkins prepare for the season opener, the focus remains on achieving a balance between performance and player safety.

The upcoming game will be closely watched as it will mark an important moment for Hopkins, who is eager to make an impact after overcoming his injury. As fans look forward to the action, all eyes will undoubtedly be on how the Titans utilize their star receiver as they kick off the new season.

Source: ESPN