It was but one game, but it was a successful showing for DeAndre Hopkins in his Kansas City Chiefs debut. He only had two receptions, tallying 29 scoreless yards in the Chiefs’ 27-20 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8. However, that is a significant change for Hopkins coming from the 1-6 Tennessee Titans.
The five-time Pro Bowler also had a message after a play highlighting his ability to separate.
DeAndre Hopkins ‘Just Getting Started’ After Chiefs Debut
Chiefs Land Grateful, Motivated DeAndre Hopkins
“…just getting started,” Hopkins posted on X on October 28.
Mahomes to Hopkins! Their first @Chiefs connection.
📺: #KCvsLV on CBS/Paramount+
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gh98YNIGxd— NFL (@NFL) October 27, 2024
Hopkins has also sent a message about his ability to separate, which had become a talking point. But Hopkins deleted that, perhaps in better judgment in favor of the more forward-focused message he has left up.
“But I can’t get separation anymore,” Hopkins said in the now-deleted post.
It was not just that play, either. But Sports Illustrated’s fantasy analyst Michael Fabiano highlighted many stats that would seem to underscore that negative narrative.
“Hopkins, 32, simply isn’t the same superstar he was during his time in Houston and Arizona,” Fabiano wrote on October 23. “Based on NextGen Stats data, his Receiving Expected Points Added is -4.9. That’s one of the worst in the league among offensive players. His Average Target Separation is 3.2, and he’s 60th in Yards After Contact Over Expected. He’s also 55th in Catch Rate Over Expected.”
Teammates React to DeAndre Hopkins’ Chiefs Debut
To that end, however, Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes is nothing like any other QB Hopkins has played with.
“Just the start,” Mahomes captioned an image of himself and Hopkins that he shared to his Instagram stories.
— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) October 28, 2024
Hopkins had initially shared the image, captioning it “Chiefs Kingdom.” He also drew some reactions from his Chiefs teammates in the comments.
“Just getting started,” Hollywood Brown posted.
“Yessirrrr!!” Travis Kelce said.
The most meaningful message, though, may have come from Justin Reid, who was Hopkins’ teammate for two years (2018 and 2019) on the Houston Texans.
“Winning here is a familiar feeling” Reid posted along with a reel of pictures, including one of him and Hopkins standing side-by-side.
“Back at it,” Hopkins replied.
The two are reunited after five seasons.
De’Andre Hopkins Sends Heartfelt Thank You to Nashville
Hopkins was only in Tennessee for two seasons, spending three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals after leaving Houston via trade in 2019. He still took a moment to show appreciation for his second stint in the AFC South.
“Thank you Nashville for bringing joy on and off the field,” Hopkins posted on X on October 24. Nashville will forever be home!”
Hopkins will face one of his former teams, the Texans, in Week 16 of this season. He will face them again, as well as the Titans, in 2025.
For the Chiefs, who trade for New England Patriots pass rusher Josh Uche with the trade deadline just over one week away, adding Hopkins only bolsters their position as the Super Bowl favorite through eight weeks. The Chiefs are the NFL’s lone unbeaten team and are chasing history.
They are operating accordingly. We will see if their rather uncharacteristic in-season splash moves pay off with that third straight title at the end of the season.
Main Photo: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
