KANSAS CITY, Mo. — DeAndre Hopkins has three first-team All-Pro selections and seven 1,000-yard receiving seasons. He has played on some good teams but never one that ventured deep in the playoffs.
So Hopkins says he is looking forward to playing for a Super Bowl contender after his trade to the Kansas City Chiefs was made official Thursday.
“I’ve done a lot, all the accolades that I can accomplish as far as personal [goals],” Hopkins said before he joined the Chiefs at practice for the first time. “So I think just playing meaningful football in January is what’s left on the list.”
Hopkins thanked Tennessee Titans general manager Ran Carthon and his staff for sending him to a contender, saying, “Those guys could have traded me anywhere.”
“It means a lot,” Hopkins said. “[Playing for a contender] takes your game to a different level. It [raises] your focus, your drive, knowing that you’re playing for something.”
Coach Andy Reid indicated that the Chiefs planned for Hopkins to play Sunday against the Raiders in Las Vegas, saying ‘Why wait?” when asked about the possibility.
Hopkins said he would be ready if asked to play.
“I’ve been in the NFL for 12 years, so I know football,” Hopkins said. “Hopefully I can go out there and make some plays wherever I fit, wherever I’m needed.”
The Chiefs have lost two of their top wide receivers, Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown, for lengthy periods, if not the season. JuJu Smith-Schuster won’t play against the Raiders because of a sore hamstring, and Skyy Moore was placed on injured reserve Thursday.
“He’s a good, veteran player and has seen just about everything over 12 years, and he’s a good space player so he has a very good understanding how to work in space at the same time,” Reid said of Hopkins. “He’s a tough matchup because of his size, arm length, big body that knows how to play that in low post area very well.”
Offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said Hopkins has a large catch radius, something that will help quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
“He has really, really good hands.” Nagy said. “He’s got some of the least amount of drops in the history of the NFL.”