DeAndre Hopkins injury update: Is Tennessee Titans WR playing in Week 1?

Mike Moraitis

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DeAndre Hopkins injury update: Is Tennessee Titans WR playing in Week 1? image

The Tennessee Titans will begin their 2024 season on Sunday against the Chicago Bears, but the status of wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has yet to be officially confirmed.

Hopkins suffered a knee injury in late July and didn't practice for the entire month of August before finally getting in three limited sessions in the week leading up to the game.

During the week, Hopkins admitted he's dealing with an MCL tear and his ability to play through it will be determined by how much he can deal with the pain.

“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,” Hopkins said during the week, per Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky. “Obviously it’s pain at that point.”

Officially, Hopkins is listed as questionable, but ESPN's Jeremy Fowler provided an update on Saturday that was both promising and concerning.

DeAndre Hopkins injury update

UPDATE: The Tennessee Titans have released their list of inactives and DeAndre Hopkins is not on it, meaning he is certain to play in Week 1.

End of update

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Hopkins is set to play in Week 1. However, the amount of snaps he sees could be determined by how much pain he can deal with, which means he may not play a full complement of snaps.

Hopkins was the No. 1 target for quarterback Will Levis last season and the 32-year-old showed he had plenty left in the tank with his seventh 1,000-yard season.

Should you start DeAndre Hopkins in fantasy?

Hopkins was already a shaky play in fantasy considering the Titans' crowded situation at wide receiver after the signings of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd this offseason. The uncertainty surrounding his workload only makes him shakier.

The fact that Hopkins may be limited is even more reason to not insert him into fantasy football lineups in Week 1. Adding to that, his outlook for the entire campaign is not good with the ticking time bomb that is his knee.

If Hopkins is forced to miss any amount of time, third-year wideout Treylon Burks would likely be the next man up. In addition, Hopkins' absence would be a big boost for Ridley, who would be the clear-cut No. 1.

Mike Moraitis

Mike Moraitis Photo

After cutting his teeth with Bleacher Report, Mike Moraitis has covered the Los Angeles Rams and Tennessee Titans for FanSided, and the Titans and New York Giants for USA TODAY Sports Media Group. On top of his duties with Sporting News, Mike is the managing editor and lead writer for Titans Wire.