DeAndre Hopkins, the wide receiver, is set to make his debut with the Kansas City Chiefs this Sunday against the Las Vegas Raiders. On the field, he’ll don the number 8 in tribute to one of his all-time favorite athletes.

“Kobe Bryant has always been one of my favorite athletes. If I ever got the chance to wear No. 8, I wanted to take it. Just like when I chose No. 10 because Lionel Messi is my favorite,” Hopkins shared with reporters on Thursday during his Chiefs introductory press conference. “No. 8 holds a special significance for me.”

With the wide receiver unit hit hard by injuries, the Kansas City Chiefs picked up the 12-year veteran in a trade with the struggling Tennessee Titans on Wednesday. Hopkins expressed gratitude towards Tennessee for allowing him to join a contending team.

“When I received the news, I was pumped and ready to kick off my work,” Hopkins said. “It’s very meaningful to me. It elevates your game. Your focus intensifies when you know you’re playing for something. I haven’t participated in significant football for a couple of years.”

This season, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is out due to a knee injury while JuJu Smith-Schuster is also dealing with a hamstring issue. Head coach Andy Reid has noted that Hopkins will fill roles previously held by the injured receivers.

“We’re thrilled to have him on board with our receiving team. He’s demonstrated his talent, and he’ll take on roles similar to what JuJu and Rashee did,” Reid stated on Thursday. “He has a great ability to navigate space and presents a tough matchup because of his size and length, making him effective in low post areas.”

The Chiefs had considered bringing in Hopkins in 2023 but he opted for a two-year contract with the Titans instead. Now, they’ve finally secured the wide receiver they’ve been eager to have.

“I’m feeling very positive about acquiring D-Hop. We discussed this two years ago in Miami, pondering how successful he would be in this offense with Patrick (Mahomes),” said Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones. “We’ve finally got him here, and I’m excited for it.”