Titans' off-the field Woes.

[Guttpuppy]

By JEFF LEGWOLD
Staff Writer-Tennessean

Playing sports for charity this offseason has turned out to be a tough deal for the Titans.

Wide receiver Derrick Mason said he fractured a bone in his right hand playing in the Titans' golf tournament last month.

Left tackle Brad Hopkins is having arthroscopic surgery on his right knee this morning and Titans officials now believe he may have suffered the injury playing in linebacker Keith Bulluck's charity basketball game last month.

''It's hard to say,'' Coach Jeff Fisher said. ''There's a chance the injury itself took place off the field, in that basketball game he played in, but we really can't be sure of that.

''Bottom line is we found it, it was symptomatic, it swelled up, it's time to get it fixed.''

Hopkins did not practice yesterday or Wednesday and was unavailable for comment after either workout. On Wednesday he underwent an MRI which revealed cartilage damage in the knee.

Hopkins, a former Pro Bowl selection set to enter his 11th NFL season, traced persistent soreness in the knee to past injuries which have caused some weakness in his right thigh muscle.

Fisher said yesterday he still expects Hopkins to be ready for the start of training camp July 25

Jason Mathews filled in for Hopkins at left tackle the past two days.

[Homeless]

Lot going on there, I really hope it doesnt play into the coming season too much.