Hopkins passes teammate Fitzgerald as youngest player to 700 receptions

The Arizona Cardinals’ newest superstar wide receiver has passed the team’s future Hall of Fame wide receiver as the youngest player in NFL history with 700 career receptions.

DeAndre Hopkins secured pass number 700 in his career at age 28 during the second quarter of the Cardinals’ Thursday night game against the Seattle Seahawks, one year earlier than teammate Larry Fitzgerald’s 700 reception accomplishment at age 29.

His 1st catch tonight also gives @DeAndreHopkins 700 in his career.

At 28 years, 166 days he becomes the youngest player in NFL history to reach 700 (previous: Larry Fitzgerald, 29 years & 23 days)#AZvsSEA pic.twitter.com/4sQXjPDUs7

— Mark Dalton (@CardsMarkD) November 20, 2020

Hopkins also became the fifth player to reach 700 receptions during the first eight seasons of a career, joining Antonio Brown, Torry Holt, Brandon Marshall and Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison.

It’s the second week in a row Hopkins has entered the NFL record books, as during the thrilling win against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, he became the second player in NFL history with at least 50 receptions and 800 receiving yards in each of the first eight seasons of a career, joining former Cardinal Gary Clark.

Coming to the Valley in a trade during the offseason from the Houston Texans, Hopkins has further cemented his status as one of the best pass-catchers in the game.

Hopkins entered the game against Seattle ranked second in the sport in receptions (67) and yards (861), behind Bills receiver Stefon Diggs.

The four-time Pro Bowler is inching closer to 9,500 career receiving yards, putting Hopkins on the fast track to reach the type of iconic status of the 37-year-old Fitzgerald.

Drafted by the Cardinals in the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald has spent 17 seasons with club, coming into Thursday night’s game with 17,357 receiving yards on 1,413 receptions.