The Sports Xchange

Tennessee Titans cornerback Jason McCourty underwent groin surgery Monday, coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

The team is hopeful he can return in time for the season opener Sept. 13 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McCourty, 28, hasn’t missed a start in three seasons and last week expressed frustration over the injury that has kept him out since early in camp.

“I hate missing practice,” McCourty said Thursday, per the team’s website. “I think no matter how long you have been in the league, everybody needs it. So it is killing me not to be out there. I am just trying to make up by doing other things to keep my conditioning up and just talking to the guys. I think there is always a need from a leadership standpoint and chemistry standpoint to be out there so I hate the fact I can’t be out there.

“I am not ready to be out there right now, so it is just a matter of when it is fully recovered and when I’ll be ready 100 percent. As soon as I can, I will be out there doing footwork and whatever I can. I absolutely hate this.”

With McCourty out, Coty Sensabaugh or Blidi Wreh-Wilson likely would start opposite Perrish Cox.