Expect more of DeAndre Hopkins in his second game with the Kansas City Chiefs.
At least that’s what head coach Andy Reid is prognosticating.
Hopkins impressively played 22 snaps for the Chiefs in their win Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders despite officially getting dealt to his new squad just three days prior.
Reid sees a lot more ahead for Nuk on Monday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
“He was chomping at the bit on the sideline wanting to play,” Reid said Monday, via team transcript, “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.”
All told, Hopkins played 32.4% of Kansas City’s offensive snaps, running 14 routes and catching two passes on three targets for 29 yards.
“I thought he looked good out there -- did a nice job,” Reid said. “He did a nice job in the run game, did a nice job in the pass game, had the big third down catch right off the bench and did well with that.”
Hopkins, 32, is now getting acclimated to his fourth NFL franchise, having been traded from a one-win Tennessee Titans squad to the NFL’s last undefeated team.
Acquiring Hopkins, who had 15 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown in six games with Tennessee, is the latest attempt by the Chiefs to inject some life and production into a beleaguered WR corps that added Marquise Brown this offseason only to have him land on injured reserve, where he was joined by Rashee Rice, who was emerging as a top-tier WR1 for the squad.
Hopkins has a glistening résumé highlighted by five Pro Bowls and three All-Pro selections.
Though his prime days are likely in the rearview, he can still provide some much-needed juice for the Chiefs. Last season, he memorably hauled in three touchdowns from Will Levis in the QB’s starting debut. So, with Patrick Mahomes targeting him, there’s optimism he can improve the Chiefs’ 12th-ranked passing offense.
He’ll have an opportunity to do so against a reeling Buccaneers squad that’s lost two in a row while allowing an average of 36 points in those defeats. Tampa also sports the 29th-ranked defense in passing yards allowed.
So, for ample reasons, Hopkins portends to make a much larger impact for the Chiefs in his second outing.
“He’s a good football player,” Reid said. “Being able to fit in more will even be better, I think, as we go forward here.”