DeAndre Hopkins will begin training camp for the Houston Texans on a holdout due to his current contract situation.
If there’s anything to take away from the Houston Texans last two seasons, it would be that DeAndre Hopkins has emerged as one of the league’s top wide receivers, and now he wants to be paid like one.
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According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter and Tania Ganguli, Hopkins failed to show up to training camp for the Texans and will now face fines for each day missed. Hopkins is entering the fourth year of his rookie contract, and when considering he’s only scheduled to make $1 million in base salary, it’s easy to see why the wideout is frustrated over his situation.
Unhappy with contract, Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins has left camp, holdout underway, HOU has declined to negotiate, via @taniaganguli and me.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2016
Update: Texans WR DeAndre Hopkins did not report to training camp. He now will be subject to fines of $40,000 for each day missed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 30, 2016
Over the last two seasons, Hopkins has caught 187 passes for 2,731 yards to go along with 17 touchdown catches, so it’s easy to understand why he’s fighting for more money. For a talented player like Hopkins to earn just $1 million in base salary for the upcoming season is absolutely ridiculous. Not to mention the wideout managed to display these types of numbers while playing with below-average quarterbacks in Houston over the last two year; just imagine what he’s capable of with an upgraded quarterback in 2016.
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Along with the Texans stellar defense, Hopkins will be one of the key factors behind whether or not Houston can win back-to-back AFC South titles. Plus, new quarterback Brock Osweiler better hope the two parties can work this contract frustration out so he can get his top target back in training camp as soon as possible.