Bears might have caught a huge break after latest DeAndre Hopkins injury update

When the Chicago Bears open up their 2024 season against the Tennessee Titans this weekend, they could be in for a major advantage.

Titans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins had not practiced for a few weeks before returning to practice recently, and insider Paul Kuharsky recently caught up with the veteran wideout to shed some light on the situation.

Hopkins admitted that he suffered an MCL tear back in July but opted not to get surgery.

“I had the MCL tear maybe four and a half, five weeks ago so the thing about those is it takes a whole year for them to heal,” Hopkins said. “Obviously it’s pain at that point.”

Hopkins went on to say he hopes he can be an asset on Sunday, but of course there's no guarantee what version of Hopkins the Bears will be seeing, if any at all.

For those at home of the critically-minded persona and ready to refer to Hopkins as an aging veteran who is no longer the same player he once was, don't forget he can still do things like this:

Hopkins was still able to post a three-score game just last season. He's still a crafty veteran with excellent hands. He is still a problem. Make no mistake about that.

Without Hopkins, the Titans could be in trouble.

The Bears defense could feast on Will Levis and the Titans in Week 1

Jaylon Johnson is likely to be matched up against Calvin Ridley in this one, and the former should have no problem locking down the latter. We're talking about one of the league's best cornerbacks matching up against a wide receiver who finished with 40 receiving yards or less in nine of 17 games last season.

Ridley was one of the more inconsistent wide receivers in football a year ago, despite still having recognizable name.

Regardless of what you believe about Ridley's talent, Johnson is better. That much is true.

It'll be up to the other guys like Tyler Boyd, third-year pro Treylon Burks and the running backs Tyjae Spears and Tony Pollard to step up. Boyd is a savvy veteran and might give the Bears some problems here and there. Burks has yet to show much of anything at the NFL level and is nearing "bust" status.

Meanwhile, the Bears are excellent against the run and it might be a long day for Spears and Pollard.

In turn, that means it could be a very long day for Levis.

If Hopkins' injury prevents him from playing on Sunday, or limits him in any capacity, the Titans offense is in serious trouble. This very well could be the type of game the Bears defense needed to kick their season off with a bang.