Travis Kelce gives insight into DeAndre Hopkins' fit in Chiefs offense after Week 8 debut vs Raiders
DeAndre Hopkins has only been a member of the Kansas City Chiefs for one week and he already has a big fan in Travis Kelce. On this week's episode of the "New Heights" podcast, Kelce raved about the addition of Hopkins to the Chiefs offense.
Hopkins was traded by the Titans to the reigning Super Bowl champions whose wide receiving core has suffered numerous injuries. Kelce said that having another veteran in the building has helped boost the offense. He also praised DeAndre Hopkins for his eagerness to learn the offense as soon as he arrived in Kansas City.
"Man, it's awesome. To have another vet...I call him Swag Champs. When you get a vet into the building and he just juices everybody's confidence up. The aura and the fun that you have in the building and just going to work. He's just another guy that you can always rely on to show up and put in the work, but enjoy what he's doing and try and have some fun with it," Kelce said.
He's been awesome stepping up and stepping into the building. He came in asking questions, trying to get caught up as fast as possible. And sure enough, we get him in the building and I think the first third down we had, we went right to him, baby, right to him," Kelce concluded. (TS-13:50)
Travis Kelce continued with his praise and excitement for DeAndre Hopkins' addition to the team. Trading for the veteran wide receiver was a necessity for the Kansas City Chiefs who lost wide receivers Hollywood Brown and Rashee Rice and recently JuJu Smith-Schuster who has been dealing with a hamstring injury.
"I think he's such a professional, man. He knows how to win football games. He knows how to be accountable. You don't need to tell that guy much. He gets it and he's only made us better already. And I promise you, as he gets more incorporated into the offense, and gets more in tune with Pat, and how Pat likes to do things, and how he likes to do things for Pat, you know, I think all that will just make him a very vital part of this offense. And it's fun to have him in the building."
DeAndre Hopkins already made a difference in just one game with Chiefs
The back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs are undefeated thus far in the 2024 NFL season. The numerous injuries to their offense though, gave them a weak spot on their roster. Trading for DeAndre Hopkins was a necessity for quarterback Patrick Mahomes and company and in his first game with the team, he showed why.
Tight end Travis Kelce will always be seen as Patrick Mahomes top target. So far this season though, Kelce hasn't had the numbers he has seen in the past and has spent most of his time blocking. In Sunday's AFC West matchup against the Las Vegas Raiders, Kelce got his first touchdown of the season.
A clip of the play circulated on social media showing DeAndre Hopkins outrun his coverage and was also open in the end zone. Mahomes now had two options in the end zone, while Kelce got it this time, Hopkins' ability to get open will be a valuable asset.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes told reporters after the game that after looking at the offensive plays, he realized DeAndre Hopkins worked hard to defeat man coverage and get open.
“As I looked back at the tablet, there’s a couple of times where, in man coverage, he was just really working and winning. Even the touchdown to Travis, if you look back on his side, he’s open, too, for a touchdown. I know the type of player he is," Mahomes told reporters after the game.
DeAndre Hopkins played 23 snaps in his debut with the Kansas City Chiefs and had two catches for 29 yards.