All eyes were on safety Jamal Adams, who was inactive against the Bears and has yet to make his regular-season debut with the Titans. Adams returned to practice on Wednesday and looks to make an impact this week. 

Things appear to be trending in the right direction, as wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and cornerback Chidobe Awuzie were removed from the injury report and fully participated in practice. The Titans’ Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: N/A

Limited participant: N/A

Full participant: Jamal Adams (hip), Otis Reese (Concussion), Dillon Radunz (rib)

Both teams have officially announced their inactives for the game. Below is a full list:

Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans

• S Jamal Adams (hip)
• LB Otis Reese IV (concussion)
• OL John Ojukuwu
• TE David Martin-Robinson
• TE Thomas Odukoya
• LB Ali Gaye

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears

• WR Tyler Scott
• LB Noah Sewell
• OL Kiran Amegadjie
• DL Zacch Pickens (groin)
• RB Roschon Johnson
• OL Bill Murray
• DL Dominique Robinson

After battling injuries most of training camp, the Titans are relatively healthy heading into the opener. However, there are still some lingering questions pertaining to some veterans.

Safety Jamal Adams (hip) did not practice for the third day and has been ruled out. Wide Receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee), linebacker Otis Reese (concussion), and recently added to the injury report, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (calf), were limited participants.

Full injury reports for both the Titans and Bears can be found below.

Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

Tennessee Titans

Out: Jamal Adams (hip), Otis Reese (concussion)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: DeAndre Hopkins (knee), Chidobe Awuzie (calf)

Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Chicago Bears

Out: Zacch Pickens (groin)

Doubtful: None

Questionable: Keenan Allen (heal), Montez Sweat (toe), Darrell Taylor (foot), DeMarcus Walker (groin)

“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.”

However, the 32-year-old hopes he can suit up for the Titans’ regular-season opener against the Chicago Bears on Sunday.

“Right now the way I feel, hopefully I can get out there Sunday and perform,” he said.

Hopkins’ workload remains unknown at this time, but the Titans are likely to be cautious with the wide receiver. He suffered an MCL tear at the end of the 2021 season when he was with the Arizona Cardinals, forcing him to miss the final six games.

The former Clemson standout did not participate in any of Tennessee’s three preseason games, but the Titans believed that Hopkins would be ready in time for the start of the season.

Now, the Titans just have to hope he can give it and go and not further injure it. However, Tennessee is well-positioned should Hopkins miss an extended period of time.

In addition to offseason additions Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd, Treylon Burks looked strong in camp, as did rookie wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson. Then, there is also Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who has become a pretty reliable for the Titans and always seems to perform well in placed of injured wide receivers.

Hopkins is in the final year of his two-year contract, and this injury, paired with his age, could play a factor in whether the Titans offer him a contract extension.

Star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins again participated, although he was sporting a sleeve on his injured knee, which was not visible during Wednesday’s practice. When asked by A to Z Sports Nashville about his status, he replied. 

“We’ll see Sunday!”

Once again, safety Jamal Adams did not participate. He is recovering from a hip injury and was not present. 

The Titans’ Thursday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: Jamal Adams (hip)

Limited participant: WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee), LB Otis Reese (Concussion)

Full participant: N/A

All eyes were on wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who has been battling a knee injury for most of the preseason, as he returned to the field in a limited capacity. This was a positive sign for Sunday because prior to practice, head coach Brian Callahan was optimistic but unsure if he would be available. 

“So, we should have guys, everyone should be at practice, and we’ll see how much they do, where they’re at. I feel pretty good about (it), but can’t make any guarantees, so see how it goes,”  Callahan said. 

Things appear to be trending in the right direction, and the Titans welcome that after struggling to see players stay healthy in camp. 

The Titans’ Wednesday injury report can be found below:

Did not participate: Jamal Adams (hip)

Limited participant: WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee), LB Otis Reese (Concussion)

Full participant: N/A

Joining wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and safety Jamal Adams on the sideline on Thursday were a couple of defenders: edge Arden Key and linebacker Otis Reese IV.

.@Titans back on practice field Thursday.

Not spotted: Arden Key, DeAndre Hopkins, Otis Reese IV, Jamal Adams. pic.twitter.com/uWHwcw2Qtg

— Jim Wyatt (@jwyattsports) August 29, 2024

Key, the veteran edge rusher, has been dealing with a hamstring injury for the past week. Initially diagnosed with a slight hamstring injury, he missed some time last week prior to the preseason finale but did take the field on Wednesday, matching head coach Brian Callahan’s initial assessment.

Reese is more of a question mark. The linebacker missed some time last week being inside the league’s concussion protocol. Though he practiced on Wednesday, it is reported that he is still making his way through protocol.

With over a week until kick off the season Week 1 against the Chicago Bears, the Titans have time to get to full strength. Will they? Time will tell.

Titans general manager Ran Carthon spoke to the media on Wednesday and said, “I get to break news. According to sources, we will be placing Cedric Gray on IR, designated for return, just to give him the opportunity to get healthy.”

Gray injured his shoulder earlier this month.

“(I) had the conversation with Cedric this morning. He’s one of those guys that you have to protect him from himself because he wants to prove that he wants to be on this team, and he has earned the right to be on this team. With the nature of his injury, we just have to protect him from himself and give him an even longer period to get back healthy for us,” he said.

During his career at UNC, Gray racked up 367 tackles (198 solo), 13 passes defensed, 8.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, and five interceptions.

Gray is young, and it would be best if he healed completely before returning to the field. The Titans have guys like Jack Gibbens, Kenneth Murray, Jr., Otis Reese IV, and James Williams; you can let the rookie heal. Continue to develop his football IQ so that when he does return, he’s even better than before.

#Titans' Callahan: No guys left in concussion protocol … Only mentions two guys missing from practice: D-Hop and Jamal Adams.

— John Glennon (@glennonsports) August 28, 2024

The Titans are optimistic that Hopkins will be ready to go for Week 1. The veteran wide receiver strained his knee early in training camp and has not participated in the preseason. After the injury, he was given a four-to-six-week window to return, which would put him on track for the opener. Hopkins is said to be on schedule, but until he takes the field, his status will continue to be in question.

There is less of a question mark on Adams. According to Jim Wyatt of the Titans‘ official site, he sat out due to soreness. This is nothing new for the veteran, as he was given maintenance days throughout training camp. He should return to the practice field in the coming days to continue preparations and be ready to go against the Bears.

Unfortunately, those fears became justified today when head coach Brian Callahan gave a terrible injury update.  According to Adam Schefter, he revealed that Campbell suffered a torn ACL and will miss the entire 2024 campaign.  

Titans LB Chance Campbell tore his ACL and is out for the year, per HC Brian Callahan.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 26, 2024

For Campbell, a 2022 sixth-round pick, this is a devastating way to end the season. During camp and the preseason, he was a standout with 16 tackles, a sack, an interception, and two tackles for loss through two games. He also looked to be a solid depth piece for the Titans.  

Campbell is no stranger to injury in his NFL career. Now entering his third season, he has seen action in only four regular-season games because of knee issues, missing his 2022 rookie season and most of 2023 with a knee injury. Now, he will face another season of surgery and rehab. 

The injury will also impact roster construction, as Campbell would have been the top backup and locked into the final 53. Already having injury concerns and a lack of depth behind starters Jack Gibbens and Kenneth Murray II, the Titans may have to scramble to find some healthy depth to roam the middle. We will keep you updated as this story develops.