It’s not too often that an NFL club adds a future Hall of Fame caliber player during the season. Normally, these veterans sign before the year and stay with their teams until the deal is done. Fortunately for the Kansas City Chiefs, none of that applied to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and since arriving via trade with the Tennessee Titans, he has played a significant role in the offense.
Not Also a big part of it, though, as the 32-year-old is currently posting his lowest yards per game average of his decade-plus career. Despite this, Hopkins does not let himself be discouraged. If anything, being part of something bigger is even more ideal at this stage of his footballing life. Hopkins has seen and done just about everything except win at the highest level.
Kansas City offers him his best chance to do that, and he’s taken the adjustment in stride. Now, after being around Hopkins daily for nearly two months, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy says he’s learned just how truly professional and selfless a teammate Hopkins can be.
“I knew from the first day I saw him that he was going to turn professional, but it continued – as if he was selfless in understanding – now there will be many moments and moments in the play that he wants a shot to get the ball,” Nagy said. “He also understands the unselfishness that we have in this offense of sometimes spreading the ball around, so I really appreciate that. There’s also a learning side to him, also in understanding that we’re doing this thing together and he expressed it, man. He’s like, “It’s great to be part of a unit where everyone understands that this thing is about us, not about me,” and I think that part is real. For me, it was really organic and positive. part in the way he handled the situation.
In eight games with the Chiefs so far, Hopkins has been targeted 51 times and has completed 35 passes for 393 yards and four touchdowns. Over the course of a full season, those numbers extrapolate to 108 targets, 74 catches, 835 yards and eight scores. For someone currently finishing his 12th season in the league, that’s more than acceptable production. This becomes even more evident when factoring in an instant share (51%) which would represent a huge drop from what he had in his last full season with the Tennessee Titans (72%).
At this point, no one would blame Hopkins if he was relatively determined. Having five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro nods on your resume probably does that to many players. However, Nagy doesn’t see that at all and enjoys the dialogue he has with Hopkins during the week and during games.
“He really hasn’t been like that,” Nagy said. “It’s not. There’ll be certain things he sees throughout the game and he’ll come up to you and say, ‘Hey, I see that.’ I love it. I know Coach (Andy) Reid does too, on his part, he has to understand that we’ve got you, we’ll get there, but don’t go there just because you say. that, that’s going to happen. He’s been great in responding to us saying that, I don’t think that should change. He’s got a lot of reps in his repertoire, he’s played a lot of reps, he’s seen a lot. things, I think there is a fair balance between that.
Hopkins got off to a fast start in Kansas City, hauling in eight receptions for 86 yards and two scores in just his second game. There was instant synergy between him and quarterback Patrick Mahomes and while the numbers aren’t crazy, Hopkins remains the club’s best player. Only tight end Travis Kelce has been more productive on paper.
That said, it’s becoming increasingly clear that the score posted doesn’t matter much to Hopkins or his coaching staff.
