DeAndre Hopkins ‘to See More’ for Chiefs vs. Bucs After Debut in Week 8, HC Reid Says

Andrew PetersOctober 30, 2024

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After a slow start in his Kansas City Chiefs debut on Sunday, DeAndre Hopkins could have more targets this week.

Head coach Andy Reid said Monday that as the star receiver gets more comfortable in the new offense, it will lead to better production, per NFL.com’s Grant Gordon.

“He was chomping at the bit on the sideline wanting to play,” Reid said. “And at the same time, knowing that he didn’t have all of it down so there was a patience there, but he was into the game and I think you’ll be able to see more this next game.”

The struggling Tennessee Titans traded Hopkins to the Chiefs last week for a 2025 conditional fifth-round draft pick. The veteran had a slow start to the season in Tennessee, recording just 173 receiving yards and a touchdown on 15 receptions in six games.

His struggles with the Titans were not necessarily his own fault. Tennessee’s offense has the fewest passing yards (1,133) and fifth-fewest passing touchdowns (7) so far this season. There just wasn’t much Hopkins could do to find success in that offense.

Now he has one of the best quarterbacks of all time throwing to him and he’s looking to put on a strong second act to his career after recording his seventh 1,000-plus receiving yard season a year ago.

Hopkins had just two receptions for 29 yards against the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday, though Patrick Mahomes looked his way just three times. As Reid alluded to, that number will likely increase in the coming games.

And the Chiefs need Hopkins to have a big season after a number of injuries to their receiver room. Kansas City lost its top receiver in Week 4 when Rashee Rice suffered a knee injury that required season-ending surgery. The Chiefs are also without Hollywood Brown after a preseason shoulder injury ended his season. JuJu Smith-Schuster, who suffered a hamstring injury last week, is not out for the season but could miss some time.

Despite the different injuries, the Chiefs are undefeated and looking to stay that way with Hopkins more incorporated into the offense.