The Tennessee Titans will be without veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins for multiple weeks after he suffered a strained knee during practice this week, but it looks like he might be back just in time for Week 1.
Head coach Brian Callahan touched on the injury ahead of Saturday's practice and said it would not require surgery. Callahan first said it would be "several weeks" for Hopkins before later saying "a few weeks."
"It's not a surgical issue, so the timeline could vary on those injuries," Callahan said, according to Jim Wyatt of TennesseeTitans.com. "So it will be a few weeks probably until he's back and ready to roll."
HC Brian Callahan confirms #Titans WR DeAndre Hopkins will be out with a knee injury.
— Sam Phalen (@Sam_Phalen) August 3, 2024
Calls it “several weeks” and adds that it’s not a surgical issue. Timeline could vary.
Titans beat writer Paul Kuharsky originally reported the timeline for Hopkins' return at four to six weeks, but NFL Network's Ian Rapoport is hearing Hopkins returning on the shorter end of that timeline is likely.
#Titans coach Brian Callahan confirms that veteran WR DeAndre Hopkins is out “several weeks” with a knee injury. He adds that there was no surgery, and source says a return at four weeks is likely (but not guaranteed).
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 3, 2024
Would allow him to be ready for Week 1.
That's significant because the Titans play their regular-season opener on Sept. 8, which is a shade over five weeks away as of this writing. A four-week recovery timeline gives Hopkins an extra week to get himself ready for Week 1.
Any longer than four weeks and Hopkins is looking at missing games.
The biggest potential issue is Hopkins missing significant practice and preseason reps during an offseason in which the team is installing a new offense.
#Titans HC Brian Callahan on Hopkins missing time with new offense:
— AtoZ Sports Nashville (@AtoZSports) August 3, 2024
“It’ll impact it a little bit but he’s been around for enough of install and this point.”
“I don’t have a lot of concern about that.”
However, DHop will undoubtedly remain locked-in to learning the system during his absence and there shouldn't be any concern about that. Adding to that, Hopkins already has a strong chemistry with quarterback Will Levis, so missed reps won't cause an issue in that department.
