Travis Kelce has been hugely 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, following likely 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 on he and his brother Jason’s ‘New Heights’ podcast.
‘It’s awesome man. Having D-Hop in the building, having another vet… I call him ‘Swag Champs,’ Kelce revealed, following Kansas City’s latest win over the Raiders.
‘When you get a vet into the building and he juices everybody’s confidence up. He juices everybody – like the aura, and the fun that you having in the building. 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.
DeAndre Hopkins (right) hasn’t been in Kansas City long but Travis Kelce already likes what he’s seeing out of his new teammate
Hopkins celebrated with Kelce as the TE scored his first TD of the season vs. 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’ll 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 need to tell that guy much. He gets it. And he’s only made us better already.’
Hopkins, 32, tallied 1,057 yards for the Titans last year to go along with seven receiving touchdowns.
Hopkins had two receptions for 29 yards against the Raiders in his Chiefs debut
He’s topped 1,000 yards in seven separate seasons during his career.
Kelce, meanwhile, has bounced back from a slow start to the season which saw him catch just eight balls over the first three games.
Since then – and after Rice’s knee injury in Week 4 – Kelce has reached 70 or more yards on three occasions, and caught his first touchdown of the season last weekend vs. the Raiders.
The Chiefs are undefeated and will look to move to 8-0 next Monday as they face the Buccaneers.
