Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins is the Tennessee Titans (0-3) most reliable play-maker. With an offense that is struggling to score (16.0 ppg) through the first three weeks of the regular season, Hopkins' stabilizing presence could make all the difference in the world.
The veteran is making meaningful progress in that direction.
DeAndre Hopkins is Essential to Will Levis' Success
"Yeah, it felt good," quarterback Will Levis said of his connection with Hopkins. "I felt like we had a good package for him, and he found the soft spots in that defense. And he ran some nice routes. I felt like I was seeing him and feeling him all day really well and giving him some good balls to run and catch with and it was good for him and his confidence to have that type of game. And we're going to continue to work with him going forward."
Hopkins was the most targeted (7) skill player in Tennessee's 30-14 loss to the Green Bay Packers (2-1) last Sunday.
He caught six of those targets for 73 yards and his first touchdown of the year. Hopkins had one target for one catch in the Titans season opener and two targets with one reception in the team's home opener. It has been a slow burn for the 32-year old as he worked his way through a knee injury this summer that cost him reps learning a new offense with his young passer.
He was not listed on the team's injury report heading into Week 3
"I've gotten to know this offense very well," Hopkins said before the Green Bay game. "Tyler Boyd has helped a lot being here and, in the time I had off, I was studying the playbook. It's a unique offense and I think I'm picking it up pretty well."
Exactly what Levis, Tennessee's coaching staff and fan base needed to hear.
Hopkins, in his 12th NFL season and his second year with the Titans, boasts career receiving numbers of 936 receptions, 12,445 yards and 79 touchdowns. With five more receiving yards and one more receiving touchdown, he will join a group of 13 other players in NFL history to reach a 900 receptions, 12,500 receiving yards and 80 receiving touchdowns, according to Tennessee PR. Nine of those 13 players are enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Hopkins cannot solve all of the Titans problems in 2024, but he is a legitimate difference maker.
Heading down to face the Miami Dolphins (1-2) on Monday Night Football, Hopkins and Levis will look to re-create some of the magic that helped them pull off the biggest point-spread upset of the 2023 NFL season against the same opponent.
Tennessee travels to Miami in Week 4. Watch/listen to Titans Radio's pregame coverage starting at 4:30 pm CT on 104.5 The Zone in Nashville.
