Wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins made a huge impact in his second game with the Kansas City Chiefs, catching a pair of touchdowns in the 30-24 overtime win against the Tampa Buccaneers on Monday Night Football.
As Chiefs head coach Andy Reid told reporters on Wednesday, the big game was the end result of a lot of hard work from a wide receiver who just joined the team just 12 days beforehand.
Reid said Hopkins has been working closely with quarterback Patrick Mahomes, getting their timing down while the All-Pro wide receiver learns the offense.
“He studies like crazy,” Reid said. “We’ve got him a bunch of different spots, for him to be able to pick it up like he has and be able to get out of the huddle and lined up has been a plus, then know the routes. He and Pat do a ton of talking. You see this with good receivers and good quarterbacks, they have a feel for each other and their games.”
Reid also shared praise for the team’s ability to step up at key moments, saying all three phases of the game have come through in big moments to move the team to 8-0. He added that there is still room for improvement.
“These games have been close, I’m proud of the guys for playing for four quarters and hanging together for that time… We can get better in all the different spots, me included,” he said. “We’re all kind of working in the same direction right now and that’s important.”
