The Chicago Bears prepare to take on the Tennessee Titans on Sunday. On paper, the Titans look like formidable opponents. One position group that headlines this is their wide receiver room with the trio of DeAndre Hopkins, Tyler Boyd, and Calvin Ridley. However, this isn’t five years ago. It is hard to gauge how strong Tennessee’s corps is. Boyd is already in his 30s, and Ridley will hit that mark later this year. As for Hopkins, it was revealed that the former Pro Bowler suffered a torn MCL in July.
However, rather than get surgery, it was decided he would try to play through it. He’s been limited all week in practice. The initial indication is that he will try to play. However, former Titans left tackle Taylor Lewan shot that idea down. From what he’s heard, Hopkins will not play. He revealed this on his Bussin’ With The Boys podcast.
Remember that Lewan only retired after the 2022 season. He still knows plenty of people inside the Titans’ building. There is no way he’d say this without hearing it from someone who’d have pretty good information. If it’s accurate, the Bears’ chances for a win just became easier.
DeAndre Hopkins being out hurts a lot.
He was by far the focal point of Tennessee’s passing attack last year, cracking 1,000 yards and playing every game. The next closest on the team had 528 yards. Don’t forget they also don’t have Derrick Henry anymore, which puts their ground game in an area of uncertainty. One can safely assume head coach Brian Callahan will shift his game plan to feature Ridley and Boyd a lot. The problem is the Bears know this. If they’re smart, and head coach Matt Eberflus is, he will roll his coverages to ensure Ridley doesn’t get any of his trademark big plays down the field. That means Boyd will have to have a big game, or the rushing attack will have to go off. Neither seems like a strong possibility.
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Titans fans better hope Lewan is wrong. Not having DeAndre Hopkins against a good defense like Chicago is going to make winning on the road extremely difficult.
Huge is a relative term.
Hopkins or not, Bears need to take whoever lines up seriously to stop the Titan passing game..
Communication is the key. Know your assignment and don’t allow WRs to wander unchecked into open space where big plays are born.