It’s been so good after just two weeks, it makes you wonder if we could be witnessing history in the making when it comes to wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his first year with the Cardinals.

No one, after all, has ever caught as many passes (22) this early in his first season with a team as Hopkins has in Arizona. If he even comes close to keeping up his current pace, he’s bound to obliterate the NFL record for most catches in a single season, which was set last year by the Saints’ Michel Thomas, who finished with 149.

It’s early, but Hopkins is on track to finish with 176 and don’t look now, but the eight-year veteran said he’s never felt better or more comfortable after his first two games.

“Yeah, I would say so, for sure,” Hopkins said this week after another stellar performance, this time against Washington, when he caught eight passes for 68 yards and a touchdown. “I really don’t look at stats too much, but just the way my body feels and the game plan going into it, this is the best I’ve felt on a Week 3.”

The Cardinals will look to improve to 3-0 this Sunday when they host the 0-2 Lions on at State Farm Stadium and although Arizona likely will rely on its running game to exploit a Detroit rushing defense that’s allowing a league-high 204 yards per game, don’t forget to keep your eyes on Hopkins.

He’s quickly turned into Kyler Murray’s favorite target and judging from the results so far, it could be just the beginning of what could become a career year for the 28-year-old from Clemson, South Carolina.

Asked how special of a season Hopkins could have with him as his quarterback, Murray said, “I envision greatness, just like he does.”

“I feel like he can have a great year,” Murray added. “The first however many years we’re together, I feel like as long as we put the work in, it should be hard to stop.”

MORE: Arizona Cardinals’ Kyler Murray is already a Top 10 NFL player

Though he’s averaged 93 catches, 1,260 receiving yards and eight touchdowns a season during his first seven years in the NFL, Hopkins has never led the league in receptions or receiving yards. This could be the year. And it could launch his career into a whole new stratosphere moving forward so long as he and Murray continue to grow and develop a chemistry.

Hopkins and Murray had never met until the quarterback invited the Cardinals’ skill players out to Dallas prior to training camp for a few unofficial workouts. In Murray’s eyes, it was instant karma.

“We just kind of hit it off through natural vibes,” he said. “He’s a real good dude. And then from there, you’ve got that quarterback-receiver connection and it’s something I can’t really explain unless you played the game and been a part of it.

“I think we kind of just naturally have that connection already.”

There will always be room for growth, Murray said, but “the feel” is already there. Both players know what types of plays each of them like and dislike. They know how they should look and operate and how best to exploit defenders. More than anything, though, they have an eerily similar sense of instinct and anticipation.

“We have those things in our heads, we see stuff before it happens,” Murray said. “Obviously, we’re going to get a ton of more looks, but I’m happy he’s on the team and I know he’s happy to be there so hopefully, we can keep this thing going.”

If it goes like it’s been going, Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald said Hopkins should easily be named first-team All-Pro for a fourth consecutive season.

“That’s the standard he’s set,” Fitzgerald said, “and to be able do it three years in a row, there’s no reason to believe that four is not for him. He works at it, he knows the system, Kyler has confidence in his ability and obviously, he has the ability and so we just need to continue to do a good job of finding ways to get him the ball and let him do what he naturally does, and that’s make plays.”

Hopkins, whose 219 receiving yards rank fifth in the league after two weeks, said he’s his own harshest critic. When he knows he ran the wrong route or was a half-second slow in making a cut, he goes straight to the video room after games to make sure it doesn’t happen again. He wants to see what happened and why “so I can be better.”

MORE: Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins takes blame for Kyler Murray interception

So far, it’s been a blast for Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury, who called Hopkins “one of the most competitive players I’ve been around.”

“He’s a tremendous talent, there’s no doubt,” Kingsbury said. “The guy can do it all. I think the greatest compliment I can give him is just the way he’s fit in. He’s come in and worked hard and been accepting of anything we’ve tried to coach him on or installed, he’s all in.

“He shows up, he wants the ball and he’s going to compete his tail off, so it’s been a lot of fun for all of us to be around him. I just think the rapport with Kyler, with all of us, it’s just going to get better and better as we go. It’s how to best utilize him, he and Kyler getting on the same page, and I just hope it continues to develop.”

Injury report

Only two players did not practice on Thursday for the Cardinals – center Mason Cole (hamstring) and wide receiver Christian Kirk (groin). Defensive tackle Jordan Phillips (ankle) was limited.

For the Lions, tight end Hunter Bryant (hamstring) and five other players were limited – cornerback Desmond Trufant (hamstring), wide receiver Kenny Golladay (hamstring), safety C.J. Moore (calf), defensive tackle Nick Williams (shoulder) and offensive tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai (foot).

Roster move

The team has placed tight end Justin Johnson on the practice squad/injured reserve list.

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch and every Wednesday night from 7-9 on The Freaks with Kenny and Crash.

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