Amani

Hooker

Hooker did not practice at all this week before going on injured reserve, indicating he left Week 15 with the issue. With the Titans eliminated from the playoff hunt, Hooker’s season is over. He totaled seven pass breakups and one interception across 13 games.

Obviously, with Hooker still in protocol, there are steps remaining in his recovery, but him already being cleared to practice is a good sign for his potential availability this weekend against the Browns.

In addition to Fulton, safety Amani Hooker (concussion) has also been ruled out. This could open the door for the Chargers to have a big day through the air against a Titans defense that allowed Derek Carr to throw for 305 yards in Week 1. Justin Herbert, Keenan Allen, and Mike Williams could all be in for big days with Fulton and Hooker both out.

Hooker went down early in the game but wasn’t ruled out until the third quarter. When healthy, Hooker plays on every defensive snap for the Titans. He has an interception, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery in four appearances this year.

The defensive injuries continue to pile up for the Titans as they look to keep their head above water in the tight AFC South. The winner of this game suddenly could find themselves atop the division a quarter of the way through the season.

A fourth-round pick in 2019, Hooker was entering the final year of his rookie contract. A rotational player early in his career, Hooker shined as a 12-game starter in 2021. He and Kevin Byard will form a quality safety duo over the next several seasons.

Fulton injured his hamstring in the Titans’ Week 5 game against the Jaguars. Before that game, he was playing on nearly every defensive snap. He will miss at least three games while on IR. Tennessee activated safety Amani Hooker from injured reserve in a corresponding move. Hooker started in Week 1 but was injured in the game and has been on injured reserve since.

Hooker will miss at least three weeks after suffering a foot injury in Week 1. The third-year safety played just 52% of snaps before exiting. An already weak secondary gets even weaker without one of their starting defensive backs, and now Tennessee will turn elsewhere for the second safety spot alongside star Kevin Byard.

Tennessee traded up to land Hooker, a two-year starter that was PFF College’s No. 1 corner in the Big Ten last season. Hooker has top end measurables (81st-percentile SPARQ, 4.4 speed) and a well-rounded skill set. He should have an immediate sub-package role.

Tennesse sent the Nos. 121 and 157 picks to the Jets to get this selection and pick No. 168. Hooker (5’11/210) turned pro as a true junior after starting for two seasons as a Hawkeye, logging 15 career pass breakups and six picks. He was voted Big Ten DB of the Year in 2018, earning PFF College’s No. 1 cornerback grade in the conference and allowing an anemic 55.8 passer rating when targeted. Hooker backed up his stock at the Combine with 81st-percentile SPARQ results, including 4.48 speed and a twitchy 6.81 three-cone time. A well-rounded safety with ample coverage and tackling skills, Hooker projects as an Adrian Amos-level starter in the pros.