It was a simulated third down when DeAndre Hopkins ran a shallow crosser over the middle of the field. Lamar Jackson's throw was low and outside to shield Hopkins from the defender.
In one motion, Hopkins slid on the wet grass, caught the ball with his left hand only, and popped back up to his feet. It was the kind of catch the Ravens signed Hopkins for – tough, contested grabs. And it certainly caught the attention of his new quarterback.
"That guy is dope. He is different," Jackson said, referring to Hopkins' catch. "That's some super vet type of stuff. It's just dope to have him, and I am looking forward to throwing a lot of touchdowns to him this year."
Hopkins tweeted about the dream of teaming up with Jackson and running back Derrick Henry when the three stars connected at NFL Honors in 2020. Now they're about to find out how many touchdowns they can score together.
Just as Jackson has been impressed with Hopkins, the veteran wide receiver has liked what he's seen from his new signal-caller and his new team as a whole.
"He's a competitor at everything. I saw him in [the locker room] shooting hoops on the basketball goal, and he didn't want to lose," Hopkins said. "That says a lot about him and who he is, just little things like that.
"The camaraderie [has stood out], [and] how close [the] guys are. I think that's what makes a great football team. They do things, not just on the field but off the field together, and I've always been a big fan of that. You have to build a bond, not just on the field but off the field."
Hopkins is entering his 13th NFL season. Playing for the Texans, Cardinals, Titans, and Chiefs, He's caught passes from more starting quarterbacks than years he's been in the league. Here's the partial list:
- Matt Schaub (2013)
- Case Keenum (2013)
- Ryan Fitzpatrick (2014)
- Brian Hoyer (2015)
- Ryan Mallett (2015)
- J. Yates (2015)
- Brock Osweiler (2016)
- Tom Savage (2016)
- Deshaun Watson (2017-2019)
- Kyler Murray (2020-2022)
- Colt McCoy (2021-2022)
- Will Levis (2023)
- Ryan Tannehill (2023)
- Patrick Mahomes (2024)
In other words, Hopkins is well-versed in knowing what it takes to gel with a new quarterback.
"Communication is key," he said. "I've played with probably more quarterbacks than any receiver, so I've learned communication – not just on the field but off the field as well."
Hopkins hit it off with Mahomes last season in Kansas City. He made 41 catches for 437 yards and scored four touchdowns, helping to propel the Chiefs back into the Super Bowl, where he caught another touchdown in his first championship appearance.
Hopkins is hungry to get back on that stage, and he has the pieces around him. Beyond Jackson, Hopkins will work in a talented wide receiver trio with Zay Flowers and Rashod Bateman. Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken recently said he sees all three as starters.
"Those guys want to be great, and they're going to be great. They definitely have a high ceiling," Hopkins said. "I'm here to help however I can. Going out [on the field], just showing those guys certain things and just communicating with them. We're all three different receivers, which is unique and cool."
Now on the other side of the rivalry between the Ravens and Chiefs, Hopkins didn't want to make comparisons between Jackson and Mahomes or the two teams. But he's thankful to be back with another elite quarterback and surrounded by premier talent.
"Definitely [at the] Kansas City Chiefs, we had a lot of weapons. We made it to the Super Bowl," Hopkins said. "So, I can't dismiss that, but this is definitely a talented team and wide receiver group, for sure."
