DeAndre Hopkins has been so productive over his career, he hasn't gotten caught up in chasing milestones. But he catches like few receivers who've ever played.
Hopkins needs just one reception on Thanksgiving night against the Cincinnati Bengals to reach 1,000 for his NFL career. He nearly had it on an end zone shot near the end of the Ravens' win over the New York Jets, but he'll look to get it on a bigger stage Thursday night.
Only 17 receivers have reached that milestone, and the names on that list include the best of the best. Eight are already in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, with Larry Fitzgerald expected to join them in next year’s class.
Hopkins has already achieved greatness, but he has not won a Super Bowl. A major reason he signed with the Ravens was to take another run at the Lombardi Trophy after playing for the Kansas City Chiefs last season and losing in the Super Bowl.
The 33-year-old Hopkins is already No. 1 among active players in all-time receiving yards (13,197), and if he stays healthy, he knows more milestones will come. However, with the Ravens on a five-game winning streak, he wants a ring to go with the records.
"This is probably the first year that I honestly looked at where I am statistically [all-time]. I've never cared about it. But in Year Year 13, I'm like, 'Alright, maybe I should start peeping at the numbers.' It definitely shows something about the body of work you've put in. You can't overlook it. You've got to be reliable. You've got to be able to practice and execute. And when you look back on it one day, you're like 'Wow.'"
Making "wow" catches is something Hopkins has done continuously throughout his career. His hands are like Velcro, with body control that resembles a contortionist. There are tons of circus catches that Hopkins has made during games, but he's made many during practices that are equally spectacular.
The Ravens are blessed with many offensive weapons, and Hopkins isn't being asked to carry an offense the way he did earlier in his career. He's caught 15 passes for 232 yards and two touchdowns and has only exceeded 50% of the Ravens' offensive snaps in two of their 11 games.
However, he's made clutch catches that have led to wins, like a diving grab he made for 11 yards in the fourth quarter in Week 11 against the Cleveland Browns. That turned a second-and-12 into a third-and-1, putting the Ravens in position for the subsequent game-winning “Hurricane” touchdown run by Mark Andrews.
"Lamar and 'Hop' executed and made a play that got us down in there," Head Coach John Harbaugh said. "'Hop' is definitely a guy that you want to try to isolate and get him the ball because he is going to catch it. He is going to come up with it.
"That slant was a heck of a catch, and it was huge. He wants more and more, and he wants that because that's who he is."
In the celebratory postgame locker room after that win, Hopkins was called on to give a speech.
"I ain't going to lie," he said. "When I came here, I did not expect us to start how we started. But I think that built us to who we are and I wouldn't have it no other way. So let's keep going."
Hopkins arrived in Baltimore with instant credibility from his teammates, based on what he had already accomplished. Younger receivers like Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Devontez Walker have picked Hopkins' brain for knowledge, looking for ways to implement his techniques.
Making Hopkins' resume more impressive is that he's done it with many different quarterbacks. He's caught 85 career touchdown passes from 15 different signal callers. Here's the list and number of touchdowns thrown to Hopkins: Deshaun Watson (25), Kyler Murray (17), Will Levis (7), T. J. Yates (7), Ryan Fitzpatrick (6), Brian Hoyer (5), Patrick Mahomes (4), Brock Osweiler (4), Patrick Mahomes (4), Jackson (2), Ryan Mallett (2), Tom Savage (2), Case Keenum (1), Matt Schaub (1), Ryan Tannehill (1), and Brandon Weeden (1).
Hopkins would love to have spent his career with a select few quarterbacks, but the cards didn't play out that way. Yet, his ability to be a playmaker for whoever he's played with speaks to his talent.
"I've never had a quarterback to build that long-term chemistry with that a lot of guys have had," Hopkins said. "I think the most time I've had with a quarterback is two years. That timing, that chemistry it takes to help you have 1,400 and 1,500-yard seasons is important.
"I came here because I knew Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry [are] here. Those guys are playing for something, and I'm just happy to be a part of it and to be in the game during those clutch situations. When my number's called, I think I've come down with it more than I haven't, so hopefully Lamar and I can keep building off that."
Being a positive teammate is important to Hopkins. Starting his NFL career with the Houston Texans, Hopkins was teammates with Hall of Fame receiver Andre Johnson, who became a role model. Johnson approached his job with professionalism every day, and Hopkins has followed suit.
"Andre played a big role in my career," Hopkins said. "I think the main thing he left with me is how to go about life outside of football. That, and how not to be considered a diva receiver.
"Andre always said, 'Don't be like these guys who don't get the ball and start acting out.' He told me I didn't want to be labeled like that. I always take pride in, no matter what happens, that I go out and do my job."
Right now, Hopkins is focused on finishing this season strong, and getting his 1,000th catch will be part of the journey. He has reached the point where he's starting to pay a little more attention to the record books. And one day, he'd like to join the best of his peers one day in the Hall of Fame.
"I do think about that, of course," Hopkins said. "Whoever the voters are, I hope they will appreciate my body of work enough to put me in. I think about the guys who are already there. I respect the heck out of those guys. Hopefully I'll earn that kind of respect."
