Travis Kelce has been mighty impressed with DeAndre Hopkins since the Chiefs traded for the wide receiver last week, and the tight end has even given his new teammate a nickname.
Hopkins, after suspected season-ending injuries to Chiefs receivers Marquise “Hollywood” Brown and Rashee Rice, landed in Kansas City from Tennessee last Wednesday in exchange for a fifth-round pick (which could become a fourth).
And the five-time Pro Bowler has already made his presence felt behind the scenes, as Kelce praised Hopkins’ positivity about his and his brother Jason’s performances.New Heights Podcast.
‘It’s great man. With D-Hop in the building, with another vet…I call him ‘Swag Champs,’ Kelce revealed, after Kansas City’s latest win over the Raiders.
“When you bring a vet into the building and he undermines everyone’s confidence. It makes everyone happy, like the appearance and the pleasure you have in the building. He just goes to work, he’s just a guy you can always rely on, he shows up and does the job, but enjoys what he does.
DeAndre Hopkins (right) hasn’t been in Kansas City long, but Travis Kelce is already happy with what he sees from his new teammate
Hopkins celebrated with Kelce as the TE scored his first TD of the season against the Raiders
Kelce noted that Hopkins had just two days to work with quarterback Patrick Mahomes and learn the team’s offense before suiting up against Las Vegas.
Hopkins had a modest two catches for 29 yards, but Kelce is confident he will continue to improve as he settles into his new surroundings.
“He’s such a professional, man,” Kelce said. “He knows how to win football games. He knows how to be accountable. You don’t have to tell that guy much. He gets it. And he has only made us better.”
Hopkins, 32, recorded 1,057 yards for the Titans last year, along with seven receiving touchdowns.
Hopkins had two receptions for 29 yards against the Raiders in his Chiefs debut
During his career, he has topped 1,000 receiving yards in seven separate seasons.
Kelce, meanwhile, has bounced back from a slow start to the season, in which he caught just eight balls in the first three games.
Since then — and after Rice’s knee injury in Week 4 — Kelce has rushed for 70 yards or more three times and scored his first touchdown of the season against the Raiders last weekend.
The Chiefs are undefeated and will look to move to 8-0 next Monday when they take on the Buccaneers.