DeAndre Hopkins battled through serious injury during playoff loss

John Glaser - USA Today Sports

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Jun 9, 2019, 8:23 AM

DeAndre 'Nuk' Hopkins is arguably the top receiver in the NFL and probably the toughest.

In the second quarter of last season's playoff loss to the Colts, Hopkins suffered a serious shoulder injury but kept battling hoping to help his teammates pull out a win.

"I tore ligaments in my shoulder completely off the bone," he said via the Houston Chronicle. "I tried to play even though I had only one arm. We had something good going, and I know they needed me."

Hopkins had five receptions for 37 yards and played all 71 offensive snaps during the contest.

"It's the most banged up I've ever been playing football. I was dealing with serious injuries a lot of people would have sat down for. But we had a good team that depended on me, and I never gave a thought to not playing unless the doctors told me I couldn't."

Hopkins finished the season with 115 catches for 1,572 yards and 11 touchdowns despite a nagging foot issue for the majority of the season.

The All-Pro is ready to have a healthy and tremendous season.

"This is going to be the best I've felt, he said after rehabbing his shoulder and foot. "I feel like I'm going to be better than ever."