NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Titans wide receiver Kendall Wright will miss Tennessee's third preseason game with Atlanta after an MRI exam shows he sprained his right knee in a loss at Cincinnati.
Coach Mike Munchak said Sunday he hopes the receiver will be back for the season opener Sept. 8 at Pittsburgh. The Titans host the Falcons on Saturday.
Wright hurt his knee in the second quarter of the 27-19 loss at Cincinnati. He walked to the sideline and was carted to the locker room. He was walking around the locker room after the game with a black wrap on his knee.
The Titans' first-round draft pick in 2012, he led the team with 64 catches as a rookie and tied for first among all NFL rookies. Munchak said Wright has been real excited about the offense going into his second season and also has had a good relationship with Jake Locker. The Titans hoped Wright would only miss a couple plays at first when he walked to the sideline.
``It's hard at first when you know now all of a sudden he's not going to play this week and probably not next week, and then hopefully we'll have him back when the season starts,'' Munchak said.
Linebacker Akeem Ayers also hurt his right ankle against the Bengals and likely will not play against Atlanta. Munchak said there's not a concern that the third-year linebacker will miss any length of time and should be back for the season opener.
Defensive end Ropati Pitoitua will have surgery Monday to repair a broken hand. Munchak did not know which hand Pitoitua broke against Cincinnati but said the veteran should be able to play with a cast on his hand.
NOTES: TE Delanie Walker may be cleared from the physically unable to perform list Monday or Tuesday. ... WR Kevin Walter (back surgery) is not yet close enough to be cleared. ... Rookie OL Brian Schwenke (left hamstring) may have a chance to make his debut against Atlanta. "He wants to get out there as much as we want to see him,'' Munchak said of the fourth-round draft pick from California.
