The outlook for the Arizona Cardinals this coming season is looking bleak.
Quarterback Kyler Murray suffered a torn ACL in December, and he is expected to miss a sizable portion of the season, which will leave them without a captain to guide the ship.
Recently, they also released DeAndre Hopkins, who was arguably their most productive wide receiver in 2022.
Many are predicting the Cardinals will have one of the worst, if not the worst, record in the NFL in 2023 as a result.
Running back James Connor knows it will take an all-hands-on-deck attitude to replace Hopkins’ production.
Cardinals RB James Conner on DeAndre Hopkins’ departure: “He was our brother and will continue to be. … Wishing him the best, but somebody’s got to step up”https://t.co/xJ4bcae6rm pic.twitter.com/4OgJbeCK3A
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) June 4, 2023
Just a few years ago, Hopkins was one of the NFL’s best wide receivers, and he posted 1,407 yards and six touchdowns as recently as the 2020 season.
He has five Pro Bowl selections and three All-Pro first-team nods to his name, and although he’s nearing his 31st birthday, he should have a lot of football left in his body.
Last season, he posted 717 yards and three touchdowns despite playing in only nine games due mostly to his early-season suspension after he violated the league’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Much of the burden of replacing Hopkins will fall on wideout Marquise Brown, who had 709 yards in 2022 a year after going over the 1,000-yard mark for the first time.
New head coach Jonathan Gannon will have to find a way to also get more production out of others, including Connor.
The good news for Arizona is that they will not only have their own first-round draft pick next year but also the Houston Texans’, which means they could reload in a hurry next spring.
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The Cardinals Were Reportedly Upset With DeAndre Hopkins Last Season