Overview
- Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said Thursday that Hopkins is no longer with the team after a brief, planned stint at New England's training camp.
- Hopkins spent several days on the field at Gillette Stadium helping the wide receivers and working with position coach Todd Downing during contested-catch drills.
- Vrabel emphasized Hopkins was not a formal member of the coaching staff and that the club sought league approval before hosting the visit.
- The 34-year-old veteran has not announced retirement and remains a free agent, leaving open the possibility of a return as a player or a move into coaching or personnel roles.
- Hopkins is a decorated receiver with multiple Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors and his short Patriots visit builds on prior ties to Vrabel from their time together in Houston and Tennessee.