For the Tennessee Titans, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is inevitable

Mike Moraitis

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For the Tennessee Titans, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is inevitable image

Year after year, Tennessee Titans fans (not all, but many) think they have seen the last of wide receiver Nick Westbrook-Ikhine in a significant role, and year after year the opposite happens.

Whether it's because of former head coach Mike Vrabel's irrational love for him, or because of injury, the wide receiver known as NWI always seems to be pushed into a role he isn't suited for.

Now, that isn't to say NWI doesn't belong in the NFL — did you know he's totally a fantastic blocker and a special teams ace? — because he does. He's a fine depth receiver who has proven he can make plays, but he isn't a starter.

The 2024 season was truly looking like the year this annual tradition with NWI would end. The Titans had DeAndre Hopkins returning, and general manager Ran Carthon brought in both Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd in free agency. And, with Treylon Burks likely to serve as the No. 4 receiver, that meant NWI would be the No. 5, at best, leaving him unlikely to see much daylight outside of special teams.

And then, the door was cracked open: Hopkins suffered a strained knee at practice on Wednesday, according to Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky, and that will sideline him four to six weeks.

With the Titans' regular-season opener just a little over five weeks away on Sept. 8, it's conceivable that Hopkins could miss a game or two. If that turns out to be the case, Burks will almost certainly fill in for Hopkins, with Boyd and Ridley working in the slot and in the other boundary spot, respectively.

However, as we know from his first two years in the league, Burks isn't a lock to perform, nor can he be relied upon to stay healthy.

Do you see where this is going yet? If you know anything about the Tennessee Titans over the past three years, you probably knew where this was going long before we got to this point in the article.

NWI is now on the doorstep of having a significant role, at least early on in the season. If Hopkins misses time, Westbrook-Ikhine will be one Burks mistake or Boyd, Ridley or Burks injury away from lining up for significant snaps yet again.

You can't stop him, and you can't hope to contain him. Nick Westbrook-Ikhine is simply inevitable.

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.