So when could DeAndre Hopkins begin his Chiefs career? No time like the present

There will be no easing Chiefs new wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins into action.

In fact, he could play Sunday.

“Why wait, right?” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said Thursday.

Even with merely a few days to absorb what he can about the Patrick Mahomes-led Chiefs offense ahead of this weekend’s game at the Las Vegas Raiders, Hopkins is confident he can contribute.

“I’ve been in the NFL 12 years, I know football, so we’re going to go out there and make some plays,” Hopkins said. “Wherever I’m needed.

“Obviously Pat has done this before with new receivers coming in and I’ve played with many quarterbacks, so I think we’ll be all right.”

Hopkins, 32, was acquired by the Chiefs on Wednesday. In exchange, the Chiefs sent a fifth-round draft pick (that could become a fourth-rounder) to the Tennessee Titans. Hopkins thus goes from a team with a 1-5 record to one that’s 6-0 and bidding for a ninth straight AFC West title and third straight Super Bowl championship.

“It takes your game to a different level,” Hopkins said when asked about playing for a winning organization. “It takes your focus, you drive knowing that you’re playing for something.”

This marks the third straight season the Chiefs have added a wide receiver before the trade deadline, following Kadarius Toney in 2022 and Mecole Hardman last year. But neither of those players brought Hopkins’ credentials.

A three-time All-Pro, Hopkins will be the most accomplished wideout to suit up for the Chiefs since Tyreek Hill in 2021. This season, Hopkins has 15 catches for just 173 yards for a Titans team that has won one game.

The Titans’ quarterback play, in particular, has been a struggle. That shows in Hopkins’ skimpy stats this season after bringing in 75 catches for 1,057 yards last year.

“His hands are phenomenal, the experience he has, and what comes with that is trust,” Chiefs offensive coordinator Matt Nagy said of Hopkins. “He has seen a bunch of different defenses. Whether it’s zone or man. He a very good route runner, he understands leverages.

“And you see the confidence and the swagger he has.”

Availability is also a coveted attribute at this point, as the Chiefs are down three wide receivers. The latest to be injured, JuJu Smith-Schuster, aggravated a hamstring injury in last week’s game at the San Francisco 49ers and has been ruled out for Sunday’s contest in Las Vegas.

Rashee Rice, the Chiefs’ top wide receiver last season, is out for the season with a knee injury, too. And KC lost its biggest offseason addition, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, in the preseason with a shoulder injury. Brown isn’t expected to play in the regular season this year.

Finally, Skyy Moore, who doesn’t have a reception this season but was targeted Sunday against the Niners, has landed on injured reserve with a core-muscle injury.

The last time he played against the Chiefs, Hopkins was with the Houston Texans. In that game, a 2019 AFC Divisional Round playoff contest, Hopkins saw Mahomes throw five touchdown passes.

He’s looking forward to playing with Mahomes now.

“One of the best to do it,” Hopkins said of the Chiefs superstar.

Hopkins is also excited to join Chris Jones in Kansas City. Hopkins and the Chiefs’ All-Pro defensive tackle are friends. They chatted about this topic — the possibility of Hopkins joining the Chiefs — two years ago at a fishing tournament in Miami.

“We talked about what it could look like, how successful I thought he could be in this offense with Pat and Coach Reid,” Jones said. “We finally got him here and I’m excited about it.”

Hopkins, who hasn’t appeared in the playoffs since that 2019 season, made sure to thank the Titans for sending him to a contender in Kansas City.

““I’ve got to thank (Titans general manager) Ran (Carthon) and his staff for trading me to a contender, first of all, because those guys could’ve traded me anywhere,” he said.