This is a season that’s been packed with injuries all around for the NFL. Reigning Super Bowl Champions, the Kansas City Chiefs, have not been immune either. With wide receivers Rashee Rice and Hollywood Brown out of the team, the rest of the offense has had to step up. Now that Patrick Mahomes is finally getting back into gear after a self-admittedly poor start to the season, who’s going to back him up?

Well, he’s always leaned on tight end Travis Kelce, but given he’s had a relatively weak season, who else? Tennessee Titans’ DeAndre Hopkins has just been signed on by the Chiefs to plug in the gap. He’s already being compared to Travis Kelce, notably as a “WR version” of him. Mahomes can be a bit of showboater, and if he has a talented route runner on his hands, we might start seeing much longer passes. Chiefs fans could be in for a treat.

At 32, DeAndre Hopkins is definitely a “veteran” wide receiver. He’s actually the 3rd oldest active wide receiver in the league, the oldest being 34-year-old Adam Thielen with the Panthers. But they’ve only got him for 2024 unless they extend him, so what matters is if he can play now. And he definitely can; 2023 saw him play a 1000+ yard season, with 7 touchdown receptions too. The man is still lithe and tactical on the field, setting himself up for the perfect passes.

In all honestly, there’s a chance he might end up outshining Travis Kelce. Hell, Kelce’s not spring chicken either, clocking in at 35-years-old, and he hasn’t caught a single touchdown reception this season. Thankfully he’s recovered from his injury earlier this season, but he and Patrick Mahomes haven’t been the killer duo they’ve been in the past. The new blood is going to be good for Kansas City Chiefs.

Will Mahomes-Kelce and the Chiefs keep that win-streak running?

At 6-0, the Chiefs are the only team still standing undefeated. They’ve had a couple close calls, mind you, particularly the 26-25 win over the Bengals. It was literally a last second field goal that won them that one. With an offense that’s not performing as expected (both Kelce and Mahomes at certain points), the defense has had to step up and hold the line. But more recently the firmer victories against the Saints and 49ers show a definite sense of intent.

The offense is working like a fine-tuned machine and Mahomes has his mojo back. If the Chiefs managed a 6-0 record while they were practically falling to pieces, what should we expect now? Well, with their wide receiver roster padded out with an exciting prospect, and Mahomes back in form, the season looks bright ahead. They’ve got a couple interesting games coming up. Hopkins will reportedly be in the squad to play against the Las Vegas Raiders next Sunday. At 2-5 and having lost their own star wide receiver Davante Adams, they might not look too threatening, but they have beaten the Ravens. They might be giant killers in disguise, who knows?

And then there’s the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, a far cry from their Super Bowl winning team, but still a threat. They stand at a respectable 4-3, and have the highest scoring game this season, against the Saints. They’re to be looked out for. All in all, though the Chiefs are starting to come together, that treasured streak might not be long for this world. Let’s see.