One of the strangest things pertaining to the Tennessee Titans' offense this season has been the lack of snaps wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has seen over four games.
Hopkins hasn't played more than 29 snaps in a single game (Week 2) this season, and his snap count has gone down in each of the last two weeks, from 25 to 21.
Meanwhile, wide receiver Treylon Burks, has three games north of 30 snaps, and has had more plays than Hopkins in every game this season, despite the fact that he's done absolutely nothing.
To further compare to other receivers on the team, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd are averaging 46.3 and 43.3 snaps per contest, respectively. Burks is averaging 34.5 and Hopkins is averaging 23.
It was assumed that Hopkins isn't playing a full complement of snaps because he's on a pitch count due to the knee injury he suffered prior to the start of the season, but apparently that is not the case.
According to head coach Brian Callahan, Hopkins is not on a pitch count. He added that the veteran wideout may have played more on Monday night if the Titans threw the football more.
Callahan also mentioned how Burks helps the Titans in the run game, how the Titans like to rotate their receivers, and how it's a long season and Tennessee is trying to keep the 32-year-old receiver fresh.
Brian Callahan on why so much more Treylon Burks (35 snaps) than DeAndre Hopkins (21). #Titans. pic.twitter.com/vhoTjamj9C
— Paul Kuharsky (@PaulKuharskyNFL) October 1, 2024
Not having Hopkins, who was Will Levis' most trusted target in 2023, out there more often while the young quarterback is struggling is malpractice, especially when the guy playing over DHop is an absolute zero. Sorry, but it's true.
Not to mention, not playing Hopkins more on running plays could telegraph what the Titans are doing. It's similar to the Derrick Henry situation, only at wide receiver.
Hopkins' lack of snaps has to be related to his knee, otherwise none of this makes any sense.
