On Thursday, Brooks Kubena of the Houston Chronicle also reported that Hopkins has interest in returning to Houston. Kubena wrote that Hopkins, a five-time Pro Bowler, "is gauging multiple teams as a free agent." The question remains whether or not this reported interest is mutual.
KPRC's Aaron Wilson estimated there is a "less than 10 percent" chance that Hopkins returns to the Texans during an appearance on SportsTalk 790 Thursday morning. Wilson added that "he doesn't make sense for what they're trying to do" and "his practice habits are not a good example for the younger players," while stating that Hopkins' relationship with the organization—not just former head coach Bill O'Brien—had deteriorated by the time he was traded to the Cardinals in 2020.