Titans receiver DeAndre Hopkins updates on his ankle injury before Chargers game
Tennessee Titans star receiver DeAndre Hopkins is preparing as if he'll play Sunday against the L.A. Chargers, even though he hasn't practiced this week with an ankle injury.
"Just trying to get my body ready to go if I’m up Sunday," Hopkins said. "That’s kind of a day-to-day process. We shall see. I haven’t been here to make those decisions. I haven’t been in that scenario so I’m not sure how it goes. But I’ll be prepared if my number’s up."
The Titans (0-1) host the Chargers (0-1) on Sunday (noon, CBS) at Nissan Stadium. Hopkins was listed as a non-participant on the Titans' Wednesday and Thursday injury reports with an ankle injury. In his first game with the Titans last week, Hopkins led the team in targets, receptions and receiving yards.
Per the Titans' official injury report on Friday, Hopkins is questionable for Sunday's game.
Hopkins said he's been able to watch film this week with quarterback Ryan Tannehill to correct some of the issues that plagued the passing game in the Week 1 loss to the Saints. When asked whether he's been able to do anything physical during the week, Hopkins said he does something physical every week by coming to work and preparing to play football.
The veteran, acquired in the offseason, said he's spent the week preparing as if he'll play against the Chargers, but since he hasn't been with the Titans long enough to know for certain what the process of being cleared for a game is like.
Hopkins confirmed that he injured the ankle on the Titans' last offensive snap of Week 1, saying he got rolled up on "pretty good."
Titans coach Mike Vrabel did not comment on Hopkins at his press conference Friday but also didn't list him among the players he's ruling out for Sunday. Those players are safety Amani Hooker (concussion) and cornerback Kristian Fulton (hamstring).
Beyond Hopkins, the Titans' depth at receiver is limited. Treylon Burks, the Titans' first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, is playing through a knee injury (LCL) he sustained on Aug. 16. He caught two passes for 18 yards and rushed once for 9 yards in the season opener. Veterans Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Chris Moore are next on the depth chart with rookies Colton Dowell and Kearis Jackson filling out the room. Second-year slot receiver Kyle Philips is on injured reserve with a knee injury (MCL).
The Titans also employed running back Tyjae Spears as a slot receiver in the team's Week 1 loss and found ways to split tight end Chig Okonkwo out as well. Despite their versatility, Spears and Okonkwo only combined for one catch on six targets for 1 yard.
Hopkins signed a two-year contract with the Titans in July after the Arizona Cardinals released him early in the summer. Miami Dolphins standout Tyreek Hill and Los Angeles Rams rookie Puka Nacua were the only players targeted more times in Week 1 than Hopkins.
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Nick Suss is the Titans beat writer for The Tennessean. Contact Nick at nsuss@gannett.com. Follow Nick on X, the platform formerly called Twitter, @nicksuss.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: DeAndre Hopkins injury update: What the WR said about his hurt ankle
