Tennessee Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins could miss four to six weeks with a strained knee, according to Paul Kuharsky.
Hopkins joined the Titans for practice Wednesday with a wrap on his left knee, as noted by ESPN’s Turron Davenport.
The recovery timeline reported by Kuharsky indicates that Hopkins could miss the entirety of the Titans’ preseason.
If Hopkins is sidelined for a full six weeks, he could also miss the Titans’ season opener against the Chicago Bears on Sept. 8. If that is the case, offseason acquisitions Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd would be likely to get more playing time in his absence.
The Titans could also turn to 2022 first-rounder Treylon Burks, who made nine starts last season and could earn more playing time if Hopkins is sidelined.
Hopkins left the Titans’ Wednesday practice with team sports medicine director Todd Torischelli and was walking “with no discernible limp,” Kuharsky reported.
Hopkins led all Tennessee receivers with 75 catches, 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns last season.
The news of the reported injury is concerning for the Titans given Hopkins’ past knee limitations with the Arizona Cardinals prior to his release in May 2023.
Hopkins missed seven regular-season games in 2021 due to a hamstring and knee injury, and two games in 2022 due to a knee strain.
The injury will also raise some concerns about the ability of the Titans’ offense to prepare for the 2024 season.
After taking passes from both Ryan Tannehill and Will Levis last season, Titans receivers will be adjusting to playing primarily with Levis during his first season as the team’s go-to starter.
The Titans are also going to be working with a new offense under new head coach Brian Callahan and offensive coordinator Nick Holz.
Callahan, who says he plans to call plays for the Titans this season, ran a pass-focused offense as the offensive coordinator for Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tennessee’s new scheme could rely heavily on Hopkins’ ability to serve as a regular target. The Titans will hope the former All-Pro receiver is able to recover as quickly as possible in the hopes of giving the new-look offense some time to gel before the regular season.