Titans WR Kyle Philips to miss six weeks with MCL injury

In last weekend’s preseason game against Minnesota, Tennessee Titans wide receiver Kyle Philips went down with a knee injury. Now, the Titans know that they’re going to be without Philips for the next six weeks with an MCL injury.

Coming into this season, Kyle Philips was projected to play a key role in the Tennessee offense. In particular, he was expected to take over as the team’s primary slot receiver. On top of that, he was also expected to play a key role as a returner this season and it was on a punt return when he was injured.

Unfortunately for Tennessee, this isn’t the only injury to a wide receiver that the Titans are going to have to open the season. Just four days before Kyle Philips went down with an injury, Treylon Burks sprained his LCL while practicing against Minnesota. His timeline to return is in four to six weeks.

These injuries make the signing of DeAndre Hopkins even more important to the Titans. Two of the team’s best wide receivers are going to be out to start the season. Hopkins being on the roster should help to cover up for those health issues. Behind Hopkins, Chris Moore and Nick-Westbrook Ikhine are the other key receivers going into the season in Tennessee.

Kyle Philips played his college football at UCLA, where he was a standout talent. That led Tennessee to use a fifth-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft on him. However, as a rookie Philips was slowed down by hamstring and shoulder injuries. In the end, he only played four games last season, recording eight receptions for 78 yards.

Kyle Philips says he’s having more fun in 2023

Recently, Kyle Philips explained that he’s much more comfortable this season than the last.

“Last year I came in as a rookie, real nervous, new team, a bunch of guys I didn’t know,” Philips said. “Now it feels a lot different. I am a lot more comfortable with the coaches, and all the guys around here. I know more about what to expect. So, I am having a lot more fun.”

Unfortunately, another injury has put a damper on the 2023 season. Hopefully, he can get healthy quickly because as he explained, he isn’t normally an injury-prone player.

“I don’t get hurt too often, but it happened and it’s out of the way now. I was able to take what I could from it, grow from it, and learn going forward,” Philips said. “This offseason has been putting good healthy weight on, learning this offense, conditioning, running routes and getting used to new teammates.”