Houston Texans wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins presents challenges for any defense he plays. A back-to-back All-Pro with 86 receptions for 903 yards and six touchdowns in 2019, the wide-out, otherwise known as “Nuk,” is a premier talent.
On Sunday, against the 8-4 Broncos, that premier talent will attempt to will the Texans to their third-straight victory. Denver’s coach, Vic Fangio, is complimentary of Hopkins.
“Really good toughness to where he just fights for the ball. He’s got tremendous hands,” Fangio told reporters Thursday. “If he doesn’t have the best hands in the league, he’s second or third behind whoever.”
The rookie coach, who used to be the Texans’ defensive coordinator from 2002-05, pointed out that Hopkins has a “good rapport going” with the entire Texans’ passing game.
“He’s a guy that you can throw it to if you’re the quarterback, even if you have tight coverage because he outfights a lot of guys for the ball,” Fangio said. “He’s got those strong hands, big catch radius and he’s a good runner after the catch. I think he’s best attributes are his —obviously, his hands — and then his toughness.”
Fangio uses 96 words to define Hopkins. He only needs six to state how his cornerbacks, led by Pro Bowler Chris Harris, will defend him.
“They’ve got to match his toughness,” said Fangio.
Fangio won’t delve into what he means by matching Hopkins’ toughness, but his defensive coordinator, Ed Donatell will.
“He brings in energy,” said Donatell. “When you see him release off contact, he’s going to fight you and he’s going to push and shove and do everything he can to separate. He has a huge catch radius. That’s kind of what the story is.”
“You’ve got to hang in there and you’ve got to match his physicality. Yes, you do,” concluded Donatell.
In three career games against the Broncos, Hopkins has 16 receptions for 149 yards and a touchdown. Last year, in a Texans win, he tallied 10 receptions for 105 yards and a touchdown. Nuk will look to build upon that performance on Sunday, no matter if the Broncos try to match his toughness.