Tennessee's star wideout isn't having the impact most expected.
Tennessee Titans wideout and former Clemson star DeAndre Hopkins draws trade interest around the NFL during a season of uncertainty in the AFC South. He sent a subtle message Saturday, seemingly a comment on the situation. He becomes a free agent after the 2024 season and his long-term status in the Titans remains in doubt.
"I was raised to be loyal and don't take the easy road…," Hopkins wrote.
With only 10 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown through four games, is that a note from Hopkins saying he's going to see things through in Nashville? Hopkins signed a two-year deal with the Titans ahead of the 2023 season after his release from the Arizona Cardinals.
ESPN NFL reporter Jeremy Fowler said Saturday on SportsCenter that Tennessee doesn't "really want to sell pieces off right now" and part of the reason for Hopkins' lack of productions is a decreasing number of targets thanks to the offseason acquisitions of Calvin Ridley and Tyler Boyd.
The result has been a frustrating go of things for Hopkins over the season's first month after he has grown accustomed to being a go-to threat on third down during his NFL career. Per Fowler, the Kansas City Chiefs were one team interested in Hopkins before he signed with the Titans last summer. A lack of availability marred Hopkins' three-year stint in Arizona. Hopkins was suspended for the first six games of the 2022 season for a violation of the league's performance-enhancing drugs policy. He returned in Week 7 and finished the 2022 campaign with 64 catches for 717 yards (11.2 average) and three touchdowns in nine games. He caught 75 passes for 1,057 yards and seven touchdowns during his first season in Tennessee, but has faded into relative obscurity this fall within a struggling passing game with Will Levis at quarterback.
The Texans drafted Hopkins out of Clemson with the 27th overall pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. He was a three-time first-team All-Pro (2017-19) and a second-team All-Pro selection in his time with the Texans prior to a 2020 trade to the Cardinals. He capped his Clemson career with a monster junior campaign in 2012. He racked up 82 receptions for 1,405 yards and an ACC-record 18 touchdowns over 13 games en route to first-team All-ACC honors. He had at least one receiving touchdown in each of the last 10 games, the longest streak in conference history. He ranks second in program history in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns.
