It remains to be seen if DeAndre Hopkins' year in Baltimore follows the script or not, but one thing is for certain. He plans to write another chapter.
In his 13th season and at 33 years old, Hopkins feels he has more to give the game after the Ravens' season ends – hopefully in the Super Bowl.
"I definitely want to play. I know I want to play one more year for sure," Hopkins said on "The Lounge" podcast this week as he prepares to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in an AFC North title game.
"I love this game. I know I can keep playing this game. I know I can go out and beat what teams call their No. 1 DB, as you guys saw the first game of the year. First catch, first touchdown I had was against one of the highest-paid DBs in the game [Bills' Christian Benford]. I know what I can do, and I know I got some years left. But who knows, man."
It has been a different kind of year for Hopkins, who will be a free agent this offseason. A longtime bell-cow receiver, he's taken a back seat to leading Ravens pass catchers Zay Flowers and Mark Andrews. Hopkins' 37 targets are about the same number of passes that have gone to Rashod Bateman (38) and Isaiah Likely (35).
With 22 catches for 330 yards and two touchdowns, Hopkins will post career-lows in nearly every major receiving category this season. However, he's made many clutch catches this season, and his 15 yards per reception is the highest of his career since his second season.
"You've got two receivers and you've got two tight ends that deserve the ball and that are good," Hopkins said. "I never really allowed myself to get upset. I'm in Year 13, man. I know my role, and I know who I am and I know what I can do. When the ball comes my way, I come down with it more than likely."
Ravens Head Coach John Harbaugh and Offensive Coordinator Todd Monken have said they want to get Hopkins more involved, and he had a season-high five targets against the New England Patriots two weeks ago.
Hopkins signed with the Ravens because he wanted to join forces with Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry (again), and because he saw Baltimore as a Super Bowl contender. The 1-5 start wasn't what he expected, but the Ravens can get into the playoffs with a win Sunday night in Pittsburgh, and Hopkins said he's "very hungry."
"I've enjoyed [this season]," Hopkins said. "When you know you have a team like we have to be in this position, you enjoy it and embrace it. I knew when we were 1-5 that we were a better team than our stats said. We just had to put it together, and we did that."
